Aflibercept Intravitreal Injection

Indications

Edema

Aflibercept Intravitreal Injection is used in adults to treat neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO), visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME), and visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV).

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Aflibercept is a recombinant fusion protein. It is made from parts of the extracellular domains of human VEGF receptors 1 and 2, joined to the Fc portion of human IgG1, and it is prepared as an iso-osmotic solution for intravitreal use. The molecule is a dimeric glycoprotein. Its protein part has a molecular weight of 97 kilodaltons (kDa), and glycosylation adds another 15% of the total molecular mass, which brings the total molecular weight to 115 kDa. Aflibercept is produced in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

It works as a soluble decoy receptor. It binds VEGF-A and PlGF, and in doing so it can stop these from binding to and activating their cognate VEGF receptors.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy: No adequate and well-controlled studies of Aflibercept have been done in pregnant women. In rabbits, Aflibercept caused harmful effects on the embryo and fetus, including external, visceral and skeletal malformations.

Lactation: Nothing is known about whether aflibercept passes into human milk. There is also no information on what the drug does to a breastfed infant, or on milk production and excretion.

Females and males of reproductive potential: Women who could become pregnant are advised to use effective contraception before the first dose, throughout treatment, and for at least 3 months after the last intravitreal injection of Aflibercept.

Infertility: There are no data on the effect of Aflibercept on human fertility.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) The recommended dose of Aflibercept is 2 mg (0.05 mL), given by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (approximately every 28 days, monthly) for the first 3 months. After that, the same 2 mg (0.05 mL) is given once every 8 weeks (2 months). The injection may be given as often as 2 mg every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly), but in most patients this showed no additional efficacy compared with dosing every 8 weeks. Some patients may need dosing every 4 weeks (monthly) after the first 12 weeks (3 months). After one year of effective therapy, patients may also be treated with one dose every 12 weeks, though this is not as effective as the recommended every 8 weeks regimen. Patients should be assessed regularly. Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) The recommended dose is 2 mg (0.05 mL), given by intravitreal injection once every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly). Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) The recommended dose of Aflibercept is 2 mg (0.05 mL), given by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (approximately every 28 days, monthly) for the first 5 injections. After that, 2 mg (0.05 mL) is given once every 8 weeks (2 months). It may be given as often as 2 mg every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly), but in most patients this showed no additional efficacy compared with dosing every 8 weeks. Some patients may need dosing every 4 weeks (monthly) after the first 20 weeks (5 months).