Conbercept (KH-902) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive, degenerative disease of the retina that occurs with increasing incidence with age and ranks third among the global causes of visual impairment. VEGF has been implicated in the development and progression of neovascular AMD. Drugs that block VEGF, leading to regression of the abnormal blood vessels, are the mainstay of treatment of neovascular AMD, particularly for subfoveal neovascular lesions. Anti-VEGF agents currently in use in neovascular AMD are pegaptanib (Macugen^®), ranibizumab (Lucentis^®), bevacizumab (Avastin^®) and a soluble VEGF receptor decoy aflibercept (Eylea^®). Recently, China Food and Drug Administration have approved conbercept for the treatment of neovascular AMD in China. Conbercept appears to offer yet another anti-VEGF drug for use in neovascular AMD. However, there is still a need for large, well-designed, randomized clinical trials to ensure its safety and efficacy.