Looking at Patient-Centered Care in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema Through a Value-Based Lens

Program Description:

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) contribute to significant clinical and financial burden for affected patients. These conditions are leading causes of visual impairment, and without consistent intervention, progressive vision loss also impairs patients’ quality of life. While antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections remain the cornerstone of therapy, there are documented gaps between the efficacy achieved in clinical trials and the visual outcomes observed in real-world practice. This disparity is heavily driven by frequent injection and follow-up schedules, travel limitations, and significant injection anxiety, which contribute to improper medication use and undertreatment. This session explores the established role of VEGF and angiopoietin/Tie2 pathways, alongside traditional protocols and evolving treatment paradigms like fixed, PRN[CET2.1], and treat-and-extend dosing. The discussion will incorporate emerging long-acting and multi-pathway therapies, and the port delivery system, with the goals of safely extending dosing intervals and alleviating the physical burden of care. Actionable managed care drug utilization strategies will be reviewed, and participants will explore how to design robust adherence support programs and streamline specialty pharmacy processes to implement patient-centric interventions. The session will also address operational workflows, with examples demonstrating how to reduce administrative friction by optimizing prior authorizations and modifying restrictive step therapy protocols to treatment access for patients with nAMD and DME.

Target audience: Managed care pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: October 16, 2026
Expiration date: December 16, 2026
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

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

• Identify the unmet needs and treatment burdens associated with conventional antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME)
• Investigate recent clinical trial and real-world data on the safety, effectiveness, and durability of current and emerging treatments for nAMD and DME
• Apply information about the epidemiology and treatment advancements to support optimal care using rational drug utilization approaches for patients with nAMD and DME

Accreditation Information

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This application-based activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-26-229-L01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through December 16, 2026.

Obtaining Credit

All participants who attended the live virtual broadcast need to log on to their Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ account on www.pharmacytimes.org to complete an online evaluation form and request their credit. Instructions on receiving credit will be provided the day of the event.

Disclosures

Sneha Sharma, PharmD, has no financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Matthew Cunningham, MD, FASRS, has the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose: 

Grant/Research Support: 4D Molecular Therapeutics, AbbVie, ADARx, Adverum, Alcon, Alimera, Annexon Inc, Aviceda, Eyebiotech, EyePoint, Genentech Inc, Henlius, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, ONL Therapeutics, Parexel, Regeneron (Sienna), Regenxbio, Stealth BioTherapeutics.

Consultant: Alcon, Alimera, Allergan, ANI Pharmaceuticals, EyePoint, Genentech Inc, Med Learning Group, Ocular Therapeutix, Ocuphire Pharma.

Speakers Bureau: Apellis, Astellas, Genentech Inc, Regeneron.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Jason Christidhis, PharmD, RUCIF; Kylie Ferrentino; and Brianna Winters have no financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated. 

At least 1 anonymous peer reviewer has been used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer

CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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[email protected]
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