Treating Wet AMD With VEGFR Inhibitor Eyedrops

Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are effective but burdensome for patients. This study, published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, sought to evaluate the use of three non-invasive VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in treating choroidal neovascularization in mice. 

The researchers studied three TKIs, sunitinib, pazopanib, and axitinib, in mice with laser-induced choroidal neovascularization. Aflibercept was given in a single intravitreal injection, and the TKIs were administered in drop form twice daily. Corrected total fluorescence and choroidal neovascularization lesion volume were measured after ten days of treatment using fundus fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography.  

Ultimately, it was found that in comparison with aflibercept injection, all TKI dispersions resulted in a similar decrease in choroidal neovascularization lesion area and volume. Moreover, the amount of TKIs in the retina was deemed sufficient. 

The researchers concluded that eyedrops of the three TKI dispersions are comparable in efficacy to intravitreal injection of aflibercept. However, successful translation of this research to benefit people with wet AMD remains to be seen [1].

Source:

[1] Kim, K. H., Oh, J. Y., Cho, D., & Kim, M. J. J. (2021). Toward a non-invasive solution of wet AMD: sunitinib, pazopanib, and axitinib eyedrops versus intraocular injection of aflibercept. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 62, 447. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2773844