Brolucizumab: First Approval

Drugs. 2019 Dec;79(18):1997-2000. doi: 10.1007/s40265-019-01231-9.

Abstract

Brolucizumab (Beovu®) is a low molecular weight, single-chain antibody fragment vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor being developed by Novartis for the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular oedema and macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion. Based primarily on the results of the phase III HAWK and HARRIER trials brolucizumab was recently approved in the US for the treatment of wet AMD. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of brolucizumab leading to this first approval.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology*
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Drug Approval*
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Macular Degeneration / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • brolucizumab