Characteristics and Predictors of Early and Delayed Responders to Ranibizumab Treatment in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Analysis from the ANCHOR, MARINA, HARBOR, and CATT Trials.

PURPOSE: This retrospective review examined visual acuity (VA) in subjects with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and identified early and delayed response to ranibizumab.

PROCEDURES: MARINA, ANCHOR, HARBOR, and CATT published data were examined for response with monthly versus individualized dosing and predictors of early versus delayed response.

RESULTS: Data were available for 1,631 subjects; 18-29% were early gainers and 15-16% were delayed gainers. Of the early gainers, 72-83% maintained their best-corrected VA gain at month 12 with monthly or individualized dosing. Delayed gainers in HARBOR almost reached the same level of response as early gainers by 12 months who were able to maintain their response. The main predictor of response was baseline VA.

CONCLUSION: There are two distinct types of ranibizumab response; some responded by month 3, while others took up to 12 months. In delayed responders, this may have implications for switching or not switching therapies.