Conbercept versus Laser for the Treatment of Infants with Zone II Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a neovascular retinal disorder in preterm infants and a leading cause of childhood blindness in highly industrialized nations. 1 Mintz-Hittner H.A. Kennedy K.A. Chuang A.Z. BEAT-ROP Cooperative GroupEfficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity. N Engl J Med. 2011; 364: 603-615 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1170) Google Scholar Laser photocoagulation, which removes excessive angiogenic stimuli originating from the avascular peripheral retina and prevents retinal detachment effectively, has been the standard treatment for ROP. 2 Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative GroupRevised indications for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: results of the early treatment for retinopathy of prematurity randomized trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003; 121: 1684-1694 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1700) Google Scholar Compared with laser therapy, the use of anti-VEGF agents has advantages such as the convenience of the procedure and continued growth of the physiological retinal vasculature. Conbercept (KH902, Chengdu Kanghong Biotech Co) is a novel recombinant fusion protein with key domains 2, 3, and 4 from VEGF receptors 1 and 2. 3 Li X. Xu G. Wang Y. et al. Safety and efficacy of conbercept in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: results from a 12-month randomized phase 2 study: AURORA study. Ophthalmology. 2014; 121: 1740-1747 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (219) Google Scholar With high affinity for all VEGF isoforms and placental growth factor, conbercept has been approved in China for the treatment of multiple retinal vascular disorders. This multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled, open-label, noninferiority trial was conducted in 3 ophthalmic centers to answer the question of whether conbercept was noninferior to laser therapy in the treatment of zone II ROP. The study was reviewed by the Medical Ethics Committee of Peking University People's Hospital. Written consent was obtained and the study adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.