This activity was originally broadcast live as a satellite symposium held in conjunction with AMCP Nexus 2022.

This program includes patient perspective videos.

Program Description

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) affect 20 million and 21 million people globally, respectively, making them two of the most noteworthy causes of vision loss in adults worldwide. nAMD occurs when new or damaged blood vessels grow uncontrolled and lead to swelling in the macula. Similarly, DME is the result of blood vessels damaged by diabetic retinopathy leaking into the macula and causing swelling. Both diseases are complex and involve multiple pathways, primarily angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Current treatments for both conditions inhibit VEGF, a protein that promotes blood vessel growth during periods of hypoxia. Though effective, anti-VEGF therapies pose a significant burden to patients, families, and healthcare providers due to the frequency of repeated injections, severe adverse effects, and potential tachyphylaxis. Emerging therapies aim to reduce these burdens through more effective and less frequent injections. This program will review the economic burden and reduced quality of life associated with nAMD and DME for patients, and present management and treatment selections for these diseases managed care professionals should be familiar with to improve patient adherence and outcomes. Clips from a patient perspective interview will be shown throughout this program to highlight the experience of a patient in accessing treatment and discussion of challenges faced in relation to therapy.

Target audience: Managed care pharmacists

Type of activity: Application
Release date: October 21, 2022
Expiration date: October 21, 2023

Time to complete activity: 1.5 hours
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

Examine limitations associated with traditional anti-vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor treatments for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Identify advantages of novel treatment/treatment approaches for nAMD and DME.
Illustrate how managed care professionals can work with retinal specialists to promote optimal outcomes in nAMD and DME.

Thank you to Jeannette Wick, RPh, MBA, FASCP for her contributions to the development of this slide deck.

Advancements in Treatment Options for Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema, featuring a Patient Perspective

Khalid M. Kamal, MPharm, PhD

Daniel F. Kiernan, MD, FACS