Targeting VEGF: a review of ranibizumab in retinal disorders

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for the development and normal functioning of retinal blood vessels. Elevated VEGF levels, however, contribute to the pathogenesis of several retinal disorders, including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and macular edema resulting from retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) is a humanized monoclonal antibody fragment that binds to all biologically active isoforms of VEGF, preventing their interaction with VEGF receptors. This inhibits the growth and leakage of blood vessels, leading to neovascular regression. Ranibizumab has been shown to produce statistically significant improvements in visual acuity and quality of life in the treatment of nAMD, DME, and macular edema secondary to RVO. In addition, ranibizumab exhibits a favorable tolerance profile, with commonly reported adverse events such as conjunctival hemorrhage, ocular pain, vitreous floaters, and elevated intraocular pressure.