It belongs to a group of medicines called anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) agents.
Aflibercept has been shown to stop the growth of new abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Growth of new abnormal blood vessels is caused by excess of VEGF and PIGF. Abnormal blood vessels in the eye may leak fluid or bleed. Aflibercept helps to stabilise and may improve vision loss.
Aflibercept is a biological medicine. Biological medicines are medicines made or derived from living cells. Biological medicines were first used to treat people with serious illnesses in the UK over 20 years ago and they have improved the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Other anti-VEGF medicines include ranibizumab, brolucizumab, bevacizumab and faricimab. Your ophthalmic healthcare professional will discuss treatment options with you and advise which medicine is best for your condition.
Until recently, only one pharmaceutical company made aflibercept. Now other companies make a biosimilar aflibercept.
Biosimilar aflibercept is a highly similar copy of the original aflibercept medicine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines a biosimilar as a medicine that is similar in terms of quality, safety and effectiveness to the original licensed medicine.
The body in the UK who regulate medicines is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). All medicines must pass rigorous tests for quality, biological activity, safety and effectiveness. Biosimilar medicines pass the same tests as the original medicine.
Whether you are due to start treatment with aflibercept for the first time or have agreed with your clinician that your treatment will change from Eylea to biosimilar aflibercept Vgenfli you can expect the same results.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produces guidance for health care. If NICE recommends the original biological medicine in their guidance, the same recommendation applies to the biosimilar medicines.
All versions of aflibercept can cause similar side effects. If you experience any problems with your treatment, report it promptly to your treating clinician, nurse or pharmacist.
Many original biological medicines are expensive and the number of conditions they treat is increasing. Biosimilar medicines are highly similar to the original medicines and have the same quality, safety and effectiveness as well as being less expensive.
Therefore, the savings made by using biosimilars allow the NHS to treat more patients and invest in new medicines to further improve patient care.
If you have further questions about aflibercept or biosimilars, then please speak to a member of your ophthalmology or pharmacy team via email at moorfields.biosimilars@nhs.net or via telephone on 07525 800836.
You can find further information on the Macular Society website www.macularsociety.org/support/