A Pharmacokinetic stuDy of intRavitreal Aflibercept Injection in Vitrectomized and Non-vitrectomized Eyes With Diabetic Macular Edema

Overview

The primary objective is to investigate and characterize the intraocular pharmacokinetics (free and bound) following intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) in vitrectomized and non-vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema The secondary objectives are to - * Investigate and characterize plasma concentrations (free and bound) following injections of intravitreal aflibercept in vitrectomized and non-vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema * Correlate with changes in ocular concentration of drug over 12 months - * change in Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) * change in Central Retinal Thickness (CRT) * change in Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (DRSS) * changes observed on Ocular coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) * number of injections * Evaluate ocular and systemic safety of intravitreal aflibercept * Additional plasma and anterior chamber (AC) fluid cytokine analysis will be performed if sufficient samples are available

Little information is known about the intraocular pharmacokinetics of intravitreal aflibercept injection in human eyes of Diabetic macular edema (DME) patients. In addition, the durability of intravitreal aflibercept injection in vitrectomized eyes is not known, since individuals with a history of vitrectomy have been excluded from clinical trials in DME. Although we recently conducted a prospective study (the DRAW study) to evaluate the intraocular pharmacokinetics of IAI in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), this research did not include eyes with DME. There has been a paucity of studies on systemic levels of free aflibercept following intravitreal aflibercept injection in DME patients, which would have implications for normal vascular hemostasis and wound repair in which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role. The proposed research will fill in these gaps in the knowledge base for intravitreal aflibercept injection. Two arms (non-vitrectomized, and vitrectomized) are included in the study to evaluate the effect of vitrectomy on the intraocular and systemic pharmacokinetics of intravitreal aflibercept injection. A sample size of 60 eyes was chosen to provide a sample of 30 non-vitrectomized eyes and 30 vitrectomized eyes to evaluate. This sample size will allow for an initial determination of the pharmacokinetics of intravitreal aflibercept injection inside the eye and in the systemic circulation of eyes with DME. One eye per patient may be eligible. In this research proposal, participants will be followed for 12-month period. Study eyes will receive intravitreal aflibercept at baseline and then starting at month 2 there will be no mandatory injection. Subject will receive additional aflibercept on an as needed basis (PRN) if DME is still present. AC fluid and blood draw will be performed prior to first PRN dose of intravitreal aflibercept. Study will involve following procedures: bio-microscopy, dilated fundoscopic exam, measurement of intraocular pressure, measurement of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photograph, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-Angiography (OCT-A). Patients will be followed monthly for 12 months.