title: Preferred therapies for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report reviews the current treatment strategies and ongoing clinical trials in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The functional and anatomic outcomes achieved in the pivotal ranibizumab trials with monthly injections set the standard for comparison. Since then, various modified dosing regimens with the aim of lessening the treatment burden associated with monthly injections have been investigated. Combination therapy incorporating photodynamic therapy and antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy may represent an alternative treatment approach and randomized multicenter clinical trials are ongoing. In addition, new pharmacologic agents like VEGF Trap-Eye are being developed and investigated; preliminary 1-year results with VEGF Trap-Eye are encouraging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ranibizumab or bevacizumab monotherapy remains the preferred therapy in the management of neovascular AMD at the present time. Ongoing clinical trials will help determine the efficacy of ranibizumab relative to bevacizumab, evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of combination therapy modalities, and assess the role of new pharmacologic agents.
authors.affiliation: Retina Service, Wills Eye Institute, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Carl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Regillo
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab