EYLEA (aflibercept) (OMD)

Key points

Favourable opinion for reimbursement only in the treatment of visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME), in the event of diffuse forms or leakages close to the centre of the macula, in adults with a visual acuity of less than or equal to 5/10 and in whom diabetes management has been optimised.

Unfavourable opinion for reimbursement in other situations.  

What therapeutic improvement?

No clinical added value in the therapeutic strategy.

Role in the care pathway?

Optimisation of diabetes management and its risk factors (glucose, blood pressure and lipid balance and quitting smoking) is a prerequisite to any treatment for visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME). Control of blood glucose and blood pressure, within the limits required by learned societies, can make it possible to control progression of the retinopathy or DME.

Among the other types of management available, focal laser photocoagulation, which is the standard treatment, is reserved for focal forms of macular oedema located away from the fovea, and possibly cases of severe DME involving the central region, where there are leaks from micro-aneurysms accessible via laser treatment and when visual acuity is normal. This technique does not improve visual acuity.

Medicinal treatments include anti-VEGF intravitreal injections (ranibizumab and aflibercept) and corticosteroid intravitreal implants [OZURDEX (dexamethasone) and ILUVIEN, (fluocinolone acetonide)].

Anti-VEGF [ranibizumab (LUCENTIS) and aflibercept (EYLEA)] intravitreal injections are first-line treatments when the visual impairment is associated with a diffuse form of DME or leakages close to the centre of the macula.

The MA for OZURDEX (dexamethasone) limits its use, firstly, to patients who are pseudophakic or who are unsuitable for non-corticosteroid therapy - subpopulations in which it is considered to be a first-line treatment - and, secondly, to patients insufficiently responsive to non-corticosteroid therapy, i.e. as second-line treatment.

For anti-VEGF therapies, as for OZURDEX (dexamethasone), the Committee recommends that these treatments be used when visual acuity has decreased to less than or equal to 5/10 and diabetes management has been optimised.

The choice between anti-VEGF therapies [ranibizumab (LUCENTIS) and aflibercept (EYLEA)] and OZURDEX (dexamethasone) in pseudophakic patients is left to the decision of the ophthalmologist, who should take into account the ophthalmological characteristics of the treated eye, the diabetic retinopathy stage, as well as the patient’s cardiovascular and cerebrovascular history and capacities to comply with treatment.

In chronic DME, a fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (ILUVIEN) is a therapeutic option, in the event of failure of other treatments, particularly anti-VEGF therapies, OZURDEX (dexamethasone) and laser therapy, if management of diabetes is optimised, taking into account its safety profile (risk of glaucoma, cataract).

DME associated with vitreomacular traction is the only clinical form for which surgery remains the treatment of choice. This form of DME is rare: it is estimated to concern less than 5% of oedemas.

Role of EYLEA (aflibercept) in the care pathway:

EYLEA (aflibercept) anti-VEGF remains a first-line treatment of visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME), in the event of diffuse forms or leakages close to the centre of the macula, in adults with a visual acuity of less than or equal to 5/10 and in whom diabetes management has been optimised.

The choice between anti-VEGF therapies [ranibizumab (LUCENTIS) and aflibercept (EYLEA)] and OZURDEX (dexamethasone intravitreal implant) in the first-line treatment of pseudophakic patients is left to the decision of the ophthalmologist, who should take into account the ophthalmological characteristics of the treated eye [history of glaucoma or ocular hypertonia, lens status (phakic or pseudophakic), history of vitrectomy], the diabetic retinopathy stage, as well as the patient’s cardiovascular and cerebrovascular history, age and capacities to comply with treatment.