October 5, 2020: “Novartis announced that results of two new post-hoc analyses of the Phase III HAWK and HARRIER clinical trials in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were presented at the EURETINA 2020 virtual congress.
The first analysis demonstrated fewer Beovu® (brolucizumab) patients had early persistent fluid, defined as the presence of intra-retinal fluid and/or sub-retinal fluid through week 12 of treatment, compared with aflibercept patients.
For patients who did have early persistent fluid, those treated with Beovu achieved greater best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gains and greater reductions in central subfield thickness (CST) at week 96 versus those treated with aflibercept.
A second analysis showed Beovu was associated with better control of retinal fluid, as measured by achievement and maintenance of defined CST levels.
In the study, more Beovu patients than aflibercept patients achieved CST control (80% vs. 69% at week 96 at a defined CST threshold of 320 µm, respectively).
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Patients who stayed longer in a controlled CST state had better visual gains compared with those who remained in an uncontrolled CST state.
CST is a key indicator of fluid in the retina, and drying the retina is a core aim of treatment for wet AMD.
“The data presented at EURETINA suggests Beovu can better help patients who have persistent retinal fluid achieve disease control by reducing CST and improving their vision in the long term,” said Dirk Sauer, Global Head Development, Novartis Pharma Ophthalmology.
“These results further strengthen our confidence in Beovu as an effective and important treatment option for wet AMD patients aiming to improve their vision.”
Novartis has nine podium presentations at the congress and is sponsoring a Beovu symposium and an independent medical education program conducted by EURETINA.
Beovu (brolucizumab)
Beovu (brolucizumab, also known as RTH258) is the first advanced humanized single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) approved for clinical use.
Single-chain antibody fragments are highly sought after in drug development due to their small size, enhanced tissue penetration, rapid clearance from systemic circulation and drug delivery characteristics.”
https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/new-phase-iii-analysis-demonstrates-novartis-beovu-showed-improvement-best-corrected-visual-acuity-wet-amd-patients-early-persistent-fluid
