Anti-VEGF Biosimilars: A Viable Alternative for Treating Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Introduction

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a common eye disease that can lead to vision loss. The approved treatment for nAMD involves regular injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGFs) into the eye, which can be expensive and require frequent visits to the doctor. To make this treatment more accessible, biosimilars of anti-VEGFs have been developed. While they have a similar structure to the original drugs, biosimilars are not exact copies. Here, we review the evidence surrounding the efficacy and safety of these anti-VEGF biosimilars for treating nAMD.

Understanding nAMD

nAMD is caused by the abnormal growth of blood vessels under the macula. These vessels can leak fluid, causing damage to the macula and leading to partial or complete vision loss. Anti-VEGFs work by stopping the growth of these blood vessels and protecting the remaining vision. Currently, 5 different anti-VEGF medicines are approved for treating nAMD. While effective, these drugs are expensive, and their injections come with unwanted side effects such as bleeding and inflammation.

What are biosimilars?

Biosimilars are versions of original anti-VEGF drugs that have a similar structure, but are not exact copies. This means that they may not produce the same effects as the original drug. Anti-VEGF biosimilars are injected in the same way as the original anti-VEGF medicines, and are generally cheaper. However, there may be some uncertainty regarding their efficacy and safety, as they have not been tested over the long term.

Research Findings

A Cochrane review assessed the benefits and harms of anti-VEGF biosimilars compared to their corresponding reference products for treating nAMD. Of the nine studies that were reviewed, involving 3814 people, little to no difference was observed between anti-VEGF biosimilars and the original drugs in terms of benefits and harms, for up to a year. This includes the prevention of further vision loss, the development of antibodies that stop the medicines from working, and the concentration of medicine in the blood. However, the studies were funded by the pharmaceutical companies that developed the anti-VEGF biosimilars, which raises questions about their reliability. Additionally, this evidence is based on a limited number of studies without long-term safety data.

Future Research Directions

While anti-VEGF biosimilars may be a viable alternative to reference products, future research should take place over more than a year to understand any desired and undesirable effects of anti-VEGF biosimilars on vision and vision-related well-being. It is also important that the findings are reported from the studies that are currently underway, and those which are currently in development.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while anti-VEGF biosimilars have been shown to provide benefits for up to a year for treating nAMD and are cheaper than the original anti-VEGF medicines, their long-term safety data is yet to be established. As new research becomes available, patients and clinicians can make informed decisions about utilizing biosimilars as an alternative treatment option for nAMD.

Originally Post From https://www.cochrane.org/CD015804/EYES_do-imitations-anti-vegf-medicines-biosimilars-work-well-original-anti-vegf-medicines-people

“Are Biosimilars as Effective as Original Anti-VEGF Medicines? Cochrane Investigates”