A November 2021 article published by the medical journal JAMA Ophthalmology, “Safety Outcomes of Brolucizumab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration”, provides new information about the incidence rates of intraocular inflammation and retinal vascular occlusion associated with Beovu (brolucizumab). This is our 19th article about Beovu safety developments since February 2020, when the various vision loss Beovu safety issues first came on our radar.
From the Abstract for this November 2021 JAMA Ophthalmology article, we point out these selected parts:
- Importance: Limited data exist on the real-world safety outcomes of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with brolucizumab (Beovu).
- Objective: To determine the real-world incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI), including retinal vasculitis (RV) and/or retinal vascular occlusion (RO), for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who underwent [Beovu (brolucizumab)] treatment. Additionally, potential risk factors associated with these adverse events were evaluated.
- Conclusions and Relevance: The incidence rate of IOI and/or RO was approximately 2.4%. Patient eyes with IOI and/or RO in the 12 months prior to first [Beovu (brolucizumab)] injection had the highest observed risk rate for IOI and/or RO in the early months after the first [Beovu (brolucizumab)] treatment. However, given study limitations, the identified risk factors cannot be used as predictors of IOI and/or RO events, and causality with [Beovu (brolucizumab)] cannot be assessed.
There was also an Invited Commentary piece related to the above medical journal article which was also published by the medical journal JAMA Ophthalmology titled “Risk Factors for Intraocular Inflammation After Brolucizumab Treatment”, fromw which we get this guidance for ophthalmologists that use Beovu for their AMD patients:
Clinicians should maintain heightened awareness for RO and/or RV with IOI after [Beovu (brolucizumab)] and be familiar with diagnostic imaging protocols especially widefield fluorescein angiography and recommended treatment algorithms. Based on the current literature, same-day bilateral [Beovu (brolucizumab)] injections should be avoided and [Beovu (brolucizumab)] is contraindicated in eyes with active IOI or a history of IOI related to [Beovu (brolucizumab)]. Based on the study from Khanani and colleagues, a recent history of IOI and/or RO should be considered as another potential risk factor for [Beovu (brolucizumab)]-related IOI.
We will continue to monitor the medical journals for Beovu safety developments and, in particular, intraocular inflammation and retinal vascular occlusion associated with Beovu.
[Read article in full at original source]