Antibody-based drug linked to eye inflammation in macular degeneration patients.
Brolucizumab, a monoclonal antibody drug developed by Novartis for macular degeneration, has been linked to rare retinal side effects in some patients due to its interactions with the immune system. The drug was approved in 2019 and is used to target the overgrowth of abnormal blood vessels that cause vision loss in AMD. Scientists at Novartis have conducted two studies to determine why the medication caused retinal disorders in some patients. The studies found that an immune response against brolucizumab was a prerequisite for both side effects, and other factors may also contribute to some patients having retinal vasculitis or retinal vascular occlusion.