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Prof Anat Loewenstein: What the FDA aflibercept approval means for patients with ROP

The approval of aflibercept for preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) expands the treatment armamentarium for these patients, comments Prof Anat Loewenstein.

Sheryl Stevenson, Group Editorial Director, Ophthalmology Times®: What is the importance or significance of this approval for these patients?

Prof Anat Loewenstein, Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center (Israel): I think that the approval of aflibercept for premature infants with ROP is a very significant step forward in the management of these little patients of ours.

We know that many of them have uncontrollable disease. Not all of them respond to bevacizumab and the ability of us to be able to treat them with a registered drug, FDA approved, will enhance the way we manage them.

We have good treatment with anti-VEGF therapy for ROP patients and having a registered good drug to do it with...with the results that we are seeing...is of huge benefit to these patients.

Stevenson: Thank you for your insights. Always very appreciated.

Loewenstein: Thank you.

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