EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF INTRAVITREAL CONBERCEPT INJECTIONS IN MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of intravitreal conbercept injections in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: A prospective, Phase II clinical trial was performed on 60 patients with macular edema secondary to RVO. Thirty patients had branch RVO (BRVO) and 30 had central RVO (CRVO). Each patient received intravitreal injections of conbercept monthly up to 3 months, followed by monthly evaluation and injection pro re nata to Month 9. Results: The average change of best-corrected visual acuity from baseline to Month 9 was 17.83 ± 10.89 letters in BRVO and 14.23 ± 11.74 letters in CRVO. The change in best-corrected visual acuity was not statistically different between the groups ( P = 0.216). The mean reduction of central retina thickness from baseline to Month 9 was 289.97 ± 165.42 μ m and 420.47 ± 235.89 μ m in BRVO and CRVO, respectively. The mean numbers of injections was 7.14 ± 1.90 in BRVO and 7.59 ± 1.39 in CRVO from baseline to Month 9 ( P = 0.4705). There were 7 serious adverse events (SAEs) in 5 patients (8.33%, 2 BRVO and 3 CRVO). All the SAEs were nonocular and were not related to the drug or the injection procedure. Conclusion: Intravitreal injections of conbercept demonstrated a generally favorable safety and tolerability profile as well as efficacy in the treatment of macular edema due to RVO.