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DRCR.Net Aflibercept vs. Bevacizumab + Deferred Aflibercept for the Treatment of CI-DME

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Diabetic Macular Edema
Interventions
Drug: intravitreous aflibercept
Registration Number
NCT03321513
Lead Sponsor
Jaeb Center for Health Research
Brief Summary

Both aflibercept and bevacizumab have been shown to improve vision in eyes with DME. In eyes with DME and at least moderate vision loss, both aflibercept and bevacizumab were also shown to be successful in many eyes. However, aflibercept was shown to be more effective at improving vision, on average, at 1 year and at 2 years. Due to the large cost difference between the two drugs, many clinicians and patients are choosing to initiate treatment with bevacizumab and then switch to aflibercept depending on the eye's response to bevacizumab treatment. However, there is no scientific evidence that this treatment strategy is as effective at improving vision as initiating treatment with aflibercept. Patients and clinicians do not know if this approach ultimately has deleterious effects on visual acuity. If starting with aflibercept is not better than starting with bevacizumab and switching to aflibercept if needed, the potential cost savings to future patients and the health care system would be substantial. However, if starting with aflibercept is better, then patients, clinicians, and health care providers can make informed decisions for how to best treat patients with DME and at least moderate vision loss.

Study Objectives To compare the efficacy of intravitreous aflibercept with intravitreous bevacizumab + deferred aflibercept if needed in eyes with CI DME and moderate vision loss

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
270
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Bevacizumab + Deferred Aflibercept Groupintravitreous aflibercept1.25 mg intravitreous bevacizumab + deferred intravitreous 2.0 mg aflibercept if eye meets switch criteria
Aflibercept Groupintravitreous aflibercept2.0 mg intravitreous aflibercept
Bevacizumab + Deferred Aflibercept GroupBevacizumab + Deferred Aflibercept Group1.25 mg intravitreous bevacizumab + deferred intravitreous 2.0 mg aflibercept if eye meets switch criteria
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mean Change in Visual Acuity2 years

Area under the curve mean change in the electronic early treatment diabetic retinopathy study visual acuity. Visual acuity was measured with the Electronic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual-acuity test on a scale from 100 letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/10) to 0 letters (Snellen equivalent, \<20/800), with higher scores indicating better vision. The data presented are the best-corrected visual acuity in the study eye after protocol-defined refraction. The primary outcome was the time-averaged change in the visual-acuity letter score over a period of 104 weeks. The score was derived by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) over the 104-week period for the change in visual acuity from baseline and dividing by the length of follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Optical Coherence Tomography Central Subfield Thickness Change From Baseline2 years

Measurements made on the Cirrus device were converted to equivalent scores as would be assessed on the Spectralis device with the use of the following formula: Spectralis score = 40.78 + 0.95 × Cirrus score.

Decrease in E-ETDRS Visual Acuity Letter Score2 years

Visual acuity was measured with the Electronic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual-acuity test on a scale from 100 letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/10) to 0 letters (Snellen equivalent, \<20/800), with higher scores indicating better vision.

Visual Acuity2 years

Visual acuity was measured with the Electronic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual-acuity test on a scale from 100 letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/10) to 0 letters (Snellen equivalent, \<20/800), with higher scores indicating better vision.

Number of Eyes in the Bevacizumab-first Group Meeting the Switching CriteriaBaseline to 104 weeks
Increase in E-ETDRS Visual Acuity Letter Score2 years

Visual acuity was measured with the Electronic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (E-ETDRS) visual-acuity test on a scale from 100 letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/10) to 0 letters (Snellen equivalent, \<20/800), with higher scores indicating better vision.

Optical Coherence Tomography Central Subfield Thickness Below the Sex-specific Threshold for Central-involved Diabetic Macular Edema2 years

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) central subfield thickness equivalents for measurements obtained on Spectral domain OCT machines were 320 μm for men and 305 μm for women on the Spectralis device (Heidelberg) and were 305 μm and 290 μm, respectively on the Cirrus OCT measurement device (Zeiss).

Change in Visual Acuity From Baseline2 years

Visual acuity was measured with the Electronic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual-acuity test on a scale from 100 letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/10) to 0 letters (Snellen equivalent, \<20/800), with higher scores indicating better vision.

Number of Visits2 years
Number of Injections2 years

All study injections were counted, including aflibercept injections received among eyes in the bevacizumab first group.

Trial Locations

Locations (54)

Retinal Diagnostic Center

🇺🇸

Campbell, California, United States

Macula & Retina Institute

🇺🇸

Glendale, California, United States

Loma Linda University Health Care, Department of Ophthalmology

🇺🇸

Loma Linda, California, United States

East Bay Retina Consultants, Inc

🇺🇸

Oakland, California, United States

National Ophthalmic Research Institute

🇺🇸

Fort Myers, Florida, United States

Florida Retina Institute-Jacksonville

🇺🇸

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Florida Retina Consultants

🇺🇸

Lakeland, Florida, United States

Retina Macula Specialists of Miami

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

Central Florida Retina

🇺🇸

Orlando, Florida, United States

Florida Retina Institute

🇺🇸

Orlando, Florida, United States

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Retinal Diagnostic Center
🇺🇸Campbell, California, United States

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