Reinventing Treatment: Bevacizumab-vikg in the Battle Against Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Bevacizumab-vikg, an investigational ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab, is on the threshold of being approved for on-label use in wet age-related macular degeneration. A phase III clinical trial found that this drug showed superior efficacy and comparable safety to ranibizumab. If approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and priced right, it will likely replace the current off-label compounded bevacizumab. In that case, bevacizumab-vikg would help eliminate the risks of contamination, reduced potency and availability often associated with the use of compounded medicines. It will be interesting to witness the impact this drug will have on how clinicians treat wet age-related macular degeneration.