Investigating the feasibility of selective anti-VEGF delivery to the retina using a microinvasive approach

What is known Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies in the intravitreal 23 space are widely used to treat retinal diseases, requiring repeated and frequent 24 injections due to the limited durability of these therapies. New approaches to address this include implantable reservoir systems to reduce the 26 need for repeated injections. What is new The feasibility of a microinvasive approach to deliver anti-VEGF therapies is explored 30 using microneedles as small as 49G. Low concentrations of the commercially available anti-VEGF products ranibizumab and 32 aflibercept can be injected into the subretinal space and intravascularly in an ex vivo 33 porcine model. These results warrant further study to understand if such approaches affect efficacy and 35 durability of anti-VEGF therapies.