Aflibercept for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a common complication of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and is a leading cause of vision loss in developed countries during the working age. Understanding the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of DME has emphasized the importance of using anti-VEGF agents in treatment. Anti-VEGF drugs such as pegaptanib, ranibizumab, bevacizumab and aflibercept have been studied in the treatment of DME. Aflibercept is a recombinant fusion protein with inhibitory effect on VEGF-A, VEGF-B, placental growth factor (PIGF) 1 and 2. It is believed that this agent has a longer duration of action than other anti-VEGF molecules due to its high affinity binding to the VEGF molecule.This review summarizes the pharmacological properties of aflibercept in terms of clinical efficacy, use and tolerability in the treatment of DME.