In a recent analysis of the phase 2/3 PHOTON trial, researchers investigated the effects of aflibercept 8 mg on patients with DME, focusing on BCVA. Lead investigator Sean Adrean, MD, Retina Consultants of Orange County, presented the findings at the annual ARVO meeting, in Seattle. 

PHOTON was a double-masked, 96-week, noninferiority trial that randomly assigned patients with DME to receive aflibercept 8 mg every 12 or 16 weeks after 3 monthly doses (8q12 [n=328] or 8q16 [n=163]) or aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks after 5 monthly doses (2q8 [n=167]). From week 16, dosing intervals were shortened if 8-mg patients met prespecified dose regimen modification criteria. In this post hoc analysis, mean changes from baseline in BCVA and central retinal thickness (CRT) at week 48 were evaluated by baseline BCVA 20/50 or worse and 20/40 or better.

Aflibercept 8 mg demonstrated meaningful visual and anatomic improvements from baseline to week 48 in patients with DME irrespective of baseline BCVA (20/50 or worse or 20/40 or better). Patients with baseline BCVA 20/50 or worse achieved numerically greater visual gains and improvements in CRT than those with baseline BCVA 20/40 or better. Greater proportions of 8-mg patients with baseline BCVA 20/40 or better vs 20/50 or worse maintained their randomized dosing intervals through week 48.