On 1st October 2021, Beovu® (brolucizumab) became the third anti-VEGF drug to be subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the treatment of wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration.
In the announcement, the Health Minister The Hon Greg Hunt MP highlighted AMD as responsible for half of all blindness and serious vision loss in Australia.
Beovu® is only available for patients who have received Lucentis® (ranibizumab) and/or EYLEA® (aflibercept) for at least six months and have not responded to first-line treatment.
The decision to switch between anti-VEGF therapies requires careful consideration of risks and benefits. For patients currently receiving eye injections for wet AMD, your ophthalmologist will be able to discuss with you whether the new treatment may be appropriate or not.
Posted: 18 October 2021
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