The FDA has approved a new drug called Pavblu (aflibercept) to treat several eye conditions that can cause vision loss. These include wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular edema after retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. Pavblu works by blocking a protein that helps abnormal blood vessels grow and leak in the eye.
Pavblu is given as an injection into the eye by a doctor. For wet AMD, the recommended dose is one injection every month for the first 3 months, then every 8 weeks. For other conditions, the schedule may start with monthly injections and then switch to every 8 weeks. Some patients may need monthly dosing, but the label notes that most patients do not get extra benefit from monthly dosing compared to every 8 weeks.
This approval gives patients and doctors another option for treating these common retinal diseases. It is not a cure, but it can help slow vision loss and, in some cases, improve vision. If you or a loved one has one of these conditions, talk to your eye doctor about whether Pavblu might be right for you. Your doctor can help you understand the risks and benefits of this new treatment.