On OCT examination, a 70-year-old patient with wet age-related macular degeneration shows subretinal fluid and a choroidal neovascular membrane. Which anti-VEGF drug was the first approved specifically for neovascular AMD?
- A Bevacizumab
- B Ranibizumab
- C Pegaptanib ✓
- D Aflibercept
Correct answer: C. Pegaptanib
Explanation
Pegaptanib (Macugen) was the first anti-VEGF agent specifically approved by the FDA for neovascular AMD in 2004; it is an aptamer targeting only VEGF-165. Ranibizumab (Lucentis), a Fab fragment of an anti-VEGF antibody, followed in 2006 and became the standard of care. Bevacizumab (Avastin) is used off-label. Aflibercept (VEGF-Trap, Eylea) was approved in 2011. Although pegaptanib was first approved, ranibizumab demonstrated superior visual acuity gains in the ANCHOR and MARINA trials.
Reference: Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.