The safety and tolerability of the Intravitreal injection of the Biosimilar Bevacizumab-Awwb (MVASI)

Background: As a biosimilar to bevacizumab (Avastin), bevacizumab-awwb (MVASI) is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor administered as an intravitreal injection and used as an off-label treatment for retinal vascular diseases. However, there are very few studies evaluating the safety of this medication as an intravitreal injection. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and tolerability profile of bevacizumab-awwb as an intravitreal injection. Method: As a retrospective cohort study, data was obtained by way of each patient’s electronic medical record. Records from 2 May 2024 to 15 November 2024, from a tertiary hospital in Australia, were reviewed. The participants included were patients above the age of 18, who had an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab-awwb and who had completed a 3-month assessable period following their first intravitreal injection. The main outcomes measured were ocular complications, systemic adverse events and raised patient concerns. Institutional ethical review exemption was acquired. Results: In total, data was obtained on 174 eyes. In 92.0% of eyes, bevacizumab-awwb was reported as being well tolerated with no reported complications. Bevacizumab-awwb was reported as being not well tolerated in 1.7% of eyes; however, no complications were reported in this subset. Ocular and systemic events were recorded for 6.3% of eyes. Conclusion: Accordingly, bevacizumab-awwb is a low-cost medication that appears to be safe and well tolerated as an intravitreal injection. This study provides preliminary support for its ongoing ophthalmic use and warrants additional research into its efficacy in the treatment of retinal vascular diseases.