The Burdens of Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

New data from the PANORAMA trial—presented this weekend at the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) 2020 Virtual Sessions by study author W. Lloyd Clark, MD—showed intravitreal aflibercept injection among severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) adult patients was beneficial to lessening disease progression over 100 weeks.

As discussed in the first segment of an HCPLive® video interview with Clark on the new data, the findings add to the robust evidence showing the anti-VEGF drug class’ role as a “paradigm-shifting” agent in patients previously careening toward worsening vision due to the debilitating disease.

Now, the benefits are becoming better understood as vastly efficacious over a longer and longer duration of care. What matters now is appropriate diagnosis, screening, and prescribing.

“The first key of when you’re considering treatment for regression of diabetic retinopathy or the prevention of site-threatening complications, is it’s important to really identify the target population of patients that are most likely to benefit from treatment,” Clark said.

In the second segment of an interview with HCPLive, Clark discussed the NPDR patient population, what they may face in worsening disease, and the pursuit of optimal anti-VEGF dosing—how to limit patient inadherence risks without sacrificing the significant benefit of agents like aflibercept.

To learn more about NDPR, severe diabetic retinopathy risk, and aflibercept dosing schedules, watch the video above.