touchCONGRESS Will a scientific breakthrough translate into clinical benefits in nAMD? Highlights from EURETINA 2019

In this interview, Pravin Dugel answers the following quesitons:

• Why retinal fluid is important as a marker of disease activity in patients with nAMD. Focus on the rationale for and evidence to support using retinal fluid as a marker?
• How can the burden of nAMD be reduced, and patient adherence and QoL improved? Focus on treatment regimens that improve patient outcomes?
• Potential benefits of a smaller-size anti-VEGF therapy on dosing. Focus on how the dosing benefits of smaller-sized anti-VEGF therapies may impact clinical outcomes?

Prof. Pravin Dugel joined Retinal Consultants of Arizona in July 1994 and is currently Managing Partner, Retinal Consultants of Arizona and Clinical Professor, Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA. Prof. Dugel is internationally recognized as a major clinical researcher and has been a primary investigator in over 100 multicentre clinical trials. His research and educational contributions have earned him the prestigious Senior Honor Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Prof. Pravin Dugel discloses:  Advisory board member for Acucela, Aerpio, Alcon Pharmaceutical, Alcon Surgical (RACII), Alimera Sciences, AMO, Annidis, ArticDX, ASRS Board, Avalanche, Bausch, Beyeonics, CDR-Life Inc., Clearside Biomedical, Digisight, DOSE Medical, Euretina Board, Gemini Pharmaceutical, Genentech, Graybug Vision, Lutronic, LUX BioScience, MacuSight, NeoVista, Neurotech, Novartis, Oculis, Omeros, Opthea, Ophthotech, Orbis International, Oxurion, Regenxbio, Reneuron, Retina World Congress, Roche, Santen, Shire Human Genetics, Stealth Biotherapeutics, Thrombogenics and TrueVision.  Consultant for Abfero, Acucela, Aerie Pharmaceutical, Aerpio, Alcon Pharmaceutical, Alcon Surgical, Allergan, Alimera Sciences, Amgen, Annidis, ArticDX, Arctic Vision, AsclepiX Therapeutics Inc., Bausch & Lomb Pharma, BeyeOnics, BioBridge/Retinagenix, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chengdu Kanghong Biotechnology, Clearside Biomedical, Daiichi Sankyo, DigiSight, DOSE Medical, Fox Kiser, Gemini Pharmaceutical, Genentech, Glaukos, Graybug Vision, Kodiak Sciences, Irenix, jCyte, Ionis, Lutronic, LUX BioScience, MacuSight, Merck, Nan Fung Group, NeoVista, Neurotech, Novartis, Oculis SA, Omeros, Opthea, Ophthotech, Optovue, ORA, PanOptica, Pentavision, Pieris Pharmaceutical, pSiveda/Eyepoint, RegenexBio, Reneuron. Roche, Santen, Inc., SciFluor Life Sciences, Shire Human Genetics, Spark Therapeutics, Stealth Biotherapeutics, Thrombogenics, TopCon and Zeiss Group.  Minor stockholder with Aerpio, Allegro, ArctixDx, Arctic Vision, Clearside Biomedical, Digisight/Verana, Fox Kiser, Graybug, Irenix, Nan Fung Group, Oculis, Ophthotech, PanOptica, SciFluor and TrueVision.

In this interview, Eric Souied answers the following questions:

• Why retinal fluid is important as a marker of disease activity in patients with nAMD. Focus on the rationale for and evidence to support using retinal fluid as a marker?
• How can the burden of nAMD be reduced, and patient adherence and QoL improved? Focus on treatment regimens that improve patient outcomes?
• Potential benefits of a smaller-size anti-VEGF therapy on dosing. Focus on how the dosing benefits of smaller-sized anti-VEGF therapies may impact clinical outcomes?

Prof. Eric Souied, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the ‘Hôpital Centre Intercommunal de Créteil’ (CHI Créteil) and the Ophthalmology Department at ‘Hôpital Henri-Mondor’, Créteil, France. He has contributed to more than 180 peer-reviewed articles published in the areas of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), hereditary retinal diseases, ophthalmic genetics and gene therapy of retinal dystrophies. His main area of research is focusing on the genetics, imaging and treatment of AMD. Professor Souied is a member of the Macula Society, Gonin Club, American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Prof. Eric Souied discloses:  Advisory role with Allergan, Bayer, Novartis and Roche.

In this interview, Anat Loewenstein answers the following questions:

• Why retinal fluid is important as a marker of disease activity in patients with nAMD. Focus on the rationale for and evidence to support using retinal fluid as a marker?
• How can the burden of nAMD be reduced, and patient adherence and QoL improved? Focus on treatment regimens that improve patient outcomes?
• Potential benefits of a smaller-size anti-VEGF therapy on dosing. Focus on how the dosing benefits of smaller-sized anti-VEGF therapies may impact clinical outcomes?

Prof. Anat Loewenstein is the Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Centre and Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Dean, Tel Aviv University. An expert in retinal toxicity with a strong research interest in the early detection of retinal disease, Prof. Loewenstein has served as the principal investigator of many clinical trials of anti-VEGF agents and steroid implants for the treatment of retinal disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular oedema (DME) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Prof. Loewenstein is currently the General Secretary of EURETINA.

Prof. Anat Loewenstein discloses:  Advisory role with Allergan, Bayer, BeyeOnics, Notal Vision, Novartis, Pres-By, Roche and Syneos Health. Research funding from Allergan, Bayer and Novartis.