Moderate to severe diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients are a step closer to gaining an FDA indication for anti-VEGF Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron) therapy as the drug’s manufacturer announces its Phase III trial results. The study shows that 80% of patients who were given an injection every eight weeks showed an improvement of two steps or more from baseline in diabetic retinopathy severity score (DRSS). Only 15% of a control group improved that much. Another group was given the injection once every 16 weeks and 65% of them showed similar improvement.

The company adds that the injections also lowered vision-threatening complications by 82% to 85% and the development of center-involved diabetic macular edema by 68% to 74% compared with sham injection.

Eylea is already approved for a number of patients, including age-related macular degeneration, macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, and DR in patients with diabetic macular edema.