Purpose: To evaluate the role of an Indian bevacizumab biosimilar (Bevatas®), for the management of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and aggressive posterior ROP (APROP) over 24-weeks.
Patients and methods: A retrospective, single-center, interventional study of 144 eyes of type 1 (100 eyes) and APROP (44 eyes). All eyes received a single dose of 0.625mg Bevatas injection, and were advised additional laser therapy for suboptimal response.
Results: The study population had a mean gestational age of 28.94 (±2.32) weeks, an average birth weight of 1.2 (±0.34) kg, and modest male predominance (52.05%). Complete regression of ROP was seen in 65.97% of 144 eyes after 24 weeks of bevacizumab monotherapy, and in 97.22% of eyes (140 eyes) after adding laser photocoagulation. The remaining four eyes (all had APROP) developed Stage 4 ROP and needed vitreous surgery. After monotherapy with bevacizumab biosimilar, type 1 ROP eyes had significantly higher rate of complete ROP regression than APROP eyes (87% vs 18.18%; P<0.00001). All eyes with type 1 ROP, and 90.91% of eyes with APROP, regressed after receiving additional laser therapy. The study population experienced no ocular or systemic adverse effects.
Conclusion: The BIOS-ROP study demonstrates that intravitreal bevacizumab biosimilar monotherapy offers significant benefit for type 1 ROP, but not APROP. Low-cost biosimilars can help sustain healthcare systems in lower-middle income countries (LMICs) with escalating healthcare expenditures. They can also improve healthcare equity by making vision-saving therapies like bevacizumab more affordable and accessible.
Keywords: bevacizumab; bevatas; biosimilar; laser photocoagulation; retinopathy of prematurity.
© 2024 Chakraborty and Sheth.