Brolucizumab for visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema

Brolucizumab is in clinical development for the treatment of visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DMO). DMO is a condition affecting the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye. The central part of the retina known as the macula, is responsible for fine detail vision, both for near (reading) and for distance. In patients with DMO, the fine meshwork of blood vessels supplying nutrients and oxygen to the macula become damaged and leaky due to the high levels of glucose in the bloodstream in some patients with diabetes. If left untreated, the leakage will potentially permanently damage the retinal nerve cells and eventually produce scarring, which can be irreversible.
Brolucizumab is administered by intravitreal injection. It works by binding with high affinity and blocking multiple isoforms of a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). By blocking VEGF-A, brolucizumab reduces the growth of the blood vessels and controls the leakage and swelling. Brolucizumab may confer advantages over currently available therapies, potentially allowing for less frequent dosing resulting in a reduced treatment burden. If licensed, will provide a treatment option for patients with visual impairment due to DMO.