Comparative effectiveness of aflibercept for the treatment of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common reason for vision loss in the United States. Many treatments, such as laser therapy and photodynamic therapies, have been used but their efficacy is limited. Emerging anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies are now considered the standard of care. Anti-VEGF agents inhibit angiogenesis in the eye by suppressing abnormal blood vessel growth, leading to vision improvement. Ranibizumab and bevacizumab are two examples of anti-VEGF drugs that have been approved; both showed promise based on the visual acuity scale. Aflibercept, another new therapy known to trap VEGF and inhibit multiple growth factors, is promising not only because it can be taken bimonthly based on year 1 of the VIEW trials, but it can also be extended, as demonstrated in year 2 of the VIEW trials. Based on a cost–effect analysis, aflibercept is comparable to other leading therapies. This is a review of relevant clinical trials that have proven the non-inferiority and safety of aflibercept compared to the standard of care and its unique role in the current management of wet AMD.

Keywords:

• aflibercept
• VEGF
• anti-VEGF
• pegatanib
• bevacizumab
• ranibizumab
• VIEW trials

Introduction

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over the age of 50 years in industrialized nations.¹ Wet AMD has an increased incidence in females compared to males and is estimated to affect about 9 million people in the United States alone.^1,2 As life expectancy increases and the number of senior citizens escalates, the number of people affected by wet AMD will continue to grow.

Treatment options for macular degeneration have drastically improved over the past 15 years. In the 1980s, conventional heat laser therapy was used for wet AMD, but the repercussions (scarring of the eyes, permanent vision loss) outweighed the benefits in the case of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM).³ In April 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first treatment for wet AMD: photodynamic therapy using verteporfin (Visudyne^®; Novartis International AG, Basel, Switzerland) injections.³ This treatment was groundbreaking at the time because of the substantial decrease of vision loss in patients with subfoveal CNVM where heat laser therapy did poorly. In photodynamic therapy, laser treatment activates verteporfin in the eye and terminates abnormal blood vessels.⁴ About one in six patients showed improved vision and a slowed progression of disease state with this therapy.^5,6

Although photodynamic therapy proved to be effective, its use slowly faded because of more effective anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies. In wet AMD, VEGF promotes angiogenesis, the growth of abnormal new blood vessels in the eye. Inhibiting VEGF causes a profound reduction in vision loss.⁷ The first anti-VEGF breakthrough therapy used for wet AMD was pegatanib (Macugen^®; OSI Pharmaceuticals, Farmingdale, NY, USA/Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) followed by ranibizumab (Lucentis^®; Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA; Novartis International AG), which was approved by the FDA in June 2006.^7,8 Ranibizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody fragment that binds to the VEGF.⁹ Ranibizumab provided greater visual acuity benefits than photodynamic therapy.

Clinical trials have shown that bevacizumab (Avastin^®; Genentech Inc; Roche, Basel, Switzerland), another anti-VEGF agent, is comparable in efficacy to ranibizumab, but it has not been approved for the treatment of wet AMD by the FDA as of yet. Bevacizumab showed similar efficacy compared to ranibizumab in the Comparison of AMD Treatment Trials (CATT), in which 60% of patients in both treatment groups gained visual improvements after 1 year of therapy.¹⁰ This was an eye opener for physicians because both treatments are used monthly for the treatment of wet AMD, but bevacizumab is a fraction of the cost of ranibizumab, and therefore bevacizumab is prescribed for off-label use for patients who cannot afford ranibizumab. It is preferred by the majority of ophthalmologists as first-line therapy for AMD because it was first to market, has an overall lower cost, and it has a wider spectrum of reimbursable indications.

The most recently approved treatment for wet AMD is aflibercept (Eylea^®),¹¹ co-developed by Sanofi-Aventis (Paris, France) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Tarrytown, NY, USA) and approved by the FDA in November 2011. It works by binding tightly to three isoforms of growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and placental growth factor).¹² This agent has high binding affinity and a long half-life, which makes afibercept lucrative in terms of the possibility of cost savings and decreased frequency of use. This review will compare the effectiveness of aflibercept versus current therapies based on clinical trials for patients with neovascular (wet) AMD.

Methodology

Using databases such as PubMed, Medline, and ClinicalTrials.gov, data were collected to compare the efficacy of aflibercept versus other therapies in the treatment of wet AMD. Data were also collected from online sources such as the National Eye Institute,¹³ Macular Degeneration Association,² other drug-dosing information webpages, and peer-review journals in order to give a fuller description of the pharmaceutical agents and their respective strengths.^14,15

Wet AMD pathophysiology

To fully understand macular degeneration the key components that are affected need to be defined. The macula is responsible for fine tuning images within one’s visual field, and impairment of this function can lead to ensuing vision loss.¹⁶ Macular degeneration can be broken down into two subsets: dry (nonexudative) AMD and wet (exudative) AMD.¹⁷ Dry AMD occurs in about 85% of patients diagnosed with macular degeneration.¹² The less serious of the two, dry AMD, is defined by drusen, small yellow deposits located near the retina.¹⁸ Dry AMD is categorized into stages based on the size of the drusen, the degree of vision loss, and retinal pigment epithelium hyperpigmentation and atrophy.¹⁸

Wet AMD accounts for only 15% of all macular degeneration, but causes up to 90% of blindness in individuals diagnosed with AMD.¹⁹ Individuals with wet AMD have weak blood vessels underneath the retina and macula, leading to the leakage of fluids and blood into the eye and consequently causing macular damage.^2,20 Cytokines and other inflammatory markers such as VEGF cause ischemia and inflammation, which leads to choroidal neovascularization (CNV).² In CNV, new blood vessels grow into the subretinal pigment epithelium (type 1) or subretinal space (type 2) by breaking through the Bruch membrane, therefore leading to rapid vision loss of central vision and metamorphopsia on Amsler grid testing.¹⁶

VEGF and its role in wet AMD

VEGF, which occurs naturally in the body, works by stimulating chemical signals to promote the growth of new blood vessels in areas of the body that are oxygen deficient.²¹ It does so by binding to a tyrosine kinase receptor, causing activation by phosphorylation (Figure 1). The VEGF receptor (VEGFR) consists of seven domains, and almost all activation occurs by binding to VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 domains.²² Both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 are located in the vascular endothelium, neurosensory retina, and retinal pigment epithelium cells.²² Activation of these receptors is the focal point of angiogenesis and vascular growth where the role of VEGFR-2, but not VEGFR-1, is documented. In other disease states, especially in cancer and tumor growth, overexpression of VEGF can lead to increased blood vessel growth, thus aiding tumor growth by providing an adequate oxygen supply.

Figure 1 VEGF binds to the vEGFR-2 receptor, activating angiogenic response by phosphorylating domains within the receptor and below the endothelial membrane.

Note: Reprinted with permission. © 2005 American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved. From: Rini BI, Small EJ. Biology and clinical development of vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapy in renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(5):1028–1043.⁵⁰
Abbreviations: VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGFR, VEGF receptor.

Wet AMD is illustrated by the development of CNV. In CNV the innermost layer, the Bruch’s membrane, becomes inflamed and causes thickening of the vascular endothelium.^23,24 Irregular growth of blood vessels under the macula supports this thickening and causes rapid central vision loss. Even in advanced stages of wet AMD partial vision is still retained, and severe loss of peripheral vision is uncommon.²⁵ The thickening and addition of new blood vessels leads to inflammation of the macula and eventual scarring of the retina and macula.²⁶ The vessels are undeveloped and cause a leakage of fluids into the eye, leading to inflammation.

CNV has a strong link to the increased expression of the VEGF gene.²⁷ VEGF is often considered the main growth factor leading to the increased angiogenesis within the eye. VEGF maintains this vessel growth, along with other cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and a host of interleukins.⁸ In wet AMD, inflammatory events that cause damage to the eye happen at a much faster rate than in dry AMD. Additionally, oxidative stress, complement factor H gene, and lifestyle factors such as diet and smoking might play a role in the etiology of AMD.^28,29

Current management of wet AMD

Wet AMD treatment options continue to expand, with new and more effective agents. Photodynamic therapy is no longer recommended as a monotherapy regimen, but success has been shown in combination with pharmacological treatment.³⁰ Currently, the standard of care for wet AMD is either a monthly dose of bevacizumab or ranibizumab.³¹ Ranibizumab shows promising results in patients with wet AMD, improving vision in over one-third of the patients tested.³² It has relatively few side effects, such as eye irritation and redness, most of which are due to the injection itself.³³ Bevacizumab has shown non-inferior results when compared to ranibizumab in the CATTs.¹⁰ Many physicians tend to use this medication off-label due to its cost effectiveness versus ranibizumab.

Aflibercept

Aflibercept, unlike other VEGF inhibitors, is a recombinant protein in which VEGFR-1 (second binding domain) and VEGFR-2 (third binding domain) are attached to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G.³⁴ Aflibercept differs from ranibizumab and bevacizumab in the mode of action by targeting VEGF via acting as a dummy receptor for VEGF, thus effectively inhibiting the angiogenic response.³⁵ This targeted response traps VEGF by binding to it even more tightly than its native receptor, triggering no angiogenic action from the VEGF and leaving it inactive.¹² Without the cascade of angiogenic responses, fewer leaky vessels grow into the macula. Aflibercept slows the progression of wet AMD, allowing patients to retain central vision for much longer.

VEGF is categorized into VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGF-E, and placenta growth factor (PIGF).^14,35 Aflibercept, a fusion protein with binding domains from native VEGF receptors, binds with high affinity to VEGF-A, VEGF-B, PIGF1, and PIGF2.¹⁴ Preclinical studies demonstrated that aflibercept suppressed CNV in several animal models.³⁴ The result of Phase III trials in humans showed effective short-term suppression of CNV in patients with exudative AMD and suggested longer durability of aflibercept compared with ranibizumab and bevacizumab.^36,37 A pivotal Phase III VEGF trial in patients with wet AMD showed that aflibercept was noninferior to ranibizumab in preventing vision loss with comparable vision gains, safety, and perhaps at lower cost than ranibizumab.³⁵

Pharmacokinetics

Aflibercept has the highest affinity for VEGF165 (K_d 0.49 Pm) compared to ranibizumab (K_d 46 Pm) and bevacizumab (K_d 58 Pm).^19,37 Moreover, aflibercept is the only approved therapy for exudative AMD that inhibits VEGF-B and PIGF, giving it further claim to be a promising solution for wet AMD. Using aflibercept can potentially inhibit more angiogenic factors, possibly treating wet AMD more effectively than current therapies.

The most captivating aspect of aflibercept is its extended half-life. According to reviews of aflibercept by Stewart⁸ and Stewart et al,³⁵ the estimated serum half-life of intravitreal aflibercept is approximately 18 days versus ranibizumab and bevacizumab, which have half-lives of approximately 4.75 days and 8.25 days, respectively. Stewart et al estimated intravitreal half-life for aflibercept to be 7.1 days.³⁵ The reason for aflibercept’s unusually long half-life is due to its relatively large molecular weight of 115 Kd, which allows it to circulate within the eye for a longer time.²² Owing to its prolonged half-life, bimonthly dosing is possible and has altered current regimens of monthly dosing for exudative AMD. Dosing in such a way can provide immediate benefits to patients who have a difficult time with intravitreal dosage administration. Also with the extended dosing intervals, patients are less likely to face side effects from the dosage regimen and are less likely to have medication administration errors.

Clinical evidence

Aflibercept gained FDA approval after two randomized, double-blind Phase III trials were conducted: VIEW 1 and VIEW 2 (VEGF Trap-Eye: Investigation of Efficacy and Safety in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration).^36,37 These studies were done to measure the safety and efficacy of aflibercept compared to the current standard of care for wet AMD, ranibizumab. It is important to note that the VIEW studies were run concurrently in different parts of the world and both studies had the same endpoints, treatment group population, and primary outcome measures. The only difference was that VIEW 1 was conducted in North America, whereas VIEW 2 was conducted internationally. Both trials had a set outcome goal at 52 weeks of treatment and the primary outcome was identified as the percentage of patients who maintained vision at week 52. Maintaining vision was defined as losing less than 15 letters based on the best-corrected visual acuity scale compared to baseline measurements.³⁶ There were four treatment groups into which patients were randomly placed (Table 1).^36,37

Table 1 Treatment groups in the VIEW 1 and VIEW 2 clinical trials

Drug (intravitreal injection)	Dosage (mg)	Dosing frequency (n) (every n weeks for 52 weeks, then as needed)
Ranibizumab	0.5	4
Aflibercept	0.5	4
Aflibercept	2	4
Aflibercept	2	8

Abbreviation: VIEW, VEGF Trap-Eye: Investigation of Efficacy and Safety in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

The results in all four treatment groups yielded similar conclusions. The primary endpoint showed noninferiority in all four treatment groups where noninferiority was defined in comparison to the standard of care ranibizumab and concluding that the three aflibercept groups were noninferior.^36,37 The most pertinent data for the use of aflibercept show the success of aflibercept dosed every 8 weeks. In year 2 of the VIEW trials, when dosing was switched to as-needed, aflibercept again proved noninferior to ranibizumab.³⁷ The safety analysis in both VIEW trials found aflibercept to be a well-tolerated drug.³⁸ When compared to ranibizumab, the safety profile was of approximately equivalent measures.^36,39 In conclusion, aflibercept dosed intravitreally each month or every 2 months after three initial monthly doses resulted in comparable efficacy and safety to monthly ranibizumab. Side effects, either ocular or systemic, were similar across treatment groups, with no differences between aflibercept administered every 2 months and monthly ranibizumab.³⁸

These studies provided a foundation for using aflibercept therapy in wet AMD. Potential advantages of aflibercept might include extended dosing periods that might lead to fewer hospital and physician visits and less financial cost to the patient due to less frequent dosing.

Cost–effect analysis

The recommended dose for aflibercept is 2 mg every 4 weeks for 3 months, followed by 2 mg every 8 weeks.⁴⁰ More frequent dosing was not found to be advantageous to patients.⁴¹ Ranibizumab is currently dosed at 0.5 mg monthly as per guidelines.⁹ Although there are only three FDA-approved therapies for wet AMD, it should also be noted that bevacizumab is the most-used therapy for wet AMD because of its relatively low cost and comparable efficacy to ranibizumab. Bevacizumab is most often dosed at 1.25–2.5 mg per monthly treatment for macular degeneration.⁴² All three therapies are considered to have equal efficacy across the board based on studies and clinical data that have been evaluated.³¹

For one treatment of ranibizumab, the cost of medication totals USD1950 per vial/dose.⁴³ If a patient is on ranibizumab for 1 year, the cost of therapy is USD23,400 (12 doses).⁴⁴ For aflibercept, due to the less intensive dosing regimen, clear savings can be seen. A single dose/treatment of aflibercept costs approximately USD1850 and the yearly cost averages USD14,800 (eight doses). Bevacizumab is the cheapest, costing roughly USD50 per dose/treatment. A yearly treatment of one bevacizumab dose per month would cost about USD600.^45,46 Not included in these cost analyses is the cost of treatment (physician visits, optical coherence tomography costs, and injection costs), which varies from center to center and is not readily available.

Other indications for aflibercept

Experiments to use intravitreal aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema have shown promising results in clinical trials.^47–49 The results of a Phase II clinical trial showed that anti-VEGF therapies improved vision compared to the standard of care for diabetic macular edema, which is photocoagulation therapy.

Conclusion

It is obvious that aflibercept has a role in macular degeneration therapy, but its use is currently limited. The major limiting factor is the cost of the therapy and administration. With bevacizumab already being the most-used anti-VEGF drug for macular degeneration, even though it is being used off-label, its use is not anticipated to subside. The CATT research group found the monthly use of either bevacizumab or ranibizumab results in the same visual acuity outcome.¹⁰ Such comparisons have raised questions about which drug to choose. Physicians tend to prescribe bevacizumab due to its extremely low cost compared to aflibercept and ranibizumab.

Aflibercept is an intriguing choice for patients who have a difficult time with the intravitreal injections. After the initial three loading doses, bimonthly dosing can be beneficial for noncompliant patients. Compared to current treatments, aflibercept has shown equal efficacy and safety. Its unique pharmacokinetics and binding to multiple receptors may allow it to expand its role in other disease states as well.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.