Early clinical data from the global SPECTRUM observational study suggest that high-dose intravitreal aflibercept (8 mg) may provide meaningful visual and anatomical benefits for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in routine clinical practice.¹ Published in Eye and representing the first global real-world dataset of its kind, the SPECTRUM analysis examined outcomes at 8 weeks after treatment initiation in approximately 100 treatment-naïve (TN) and previously treated (PT) patients with wet AMD.

SPECTRUM (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT06075147) is a 24-month, prospective, observational study conducted across 18 countries, enrolling patients aged 50 years and older diagnosed with TN or PT wet AMD who were prescribed aflibercept 8 mg by their treating physicians. All treatment decisions were made according to standard clinical practice rather than a rigid experimental protocol.

By Week 8, patients in the treatment-naïve cohort showed a mean visual acuity gain of roughly +3 letters compared with baseline, while the previously treated group maintained stable visual acuity. Both cohorts demonstrated reductions in central retinal thickness and increases in the proportion of eyes without intraretinal or subretinal fluid, suggesting beneficial anatomical responses.

The incidence of ocular treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was low in both cohorts, and no serious ocular or non-ocular TEAEs were reported. No cases of intraocular inflammation were observed. These safety findings align with results from earlier controlled clinical trials of high-dose aflibercept.

Investigators emphasized that SPECTRUM is an observational study, and its early 8-week results reflect routine clinical practice rather than a controlled clinical trial. The authors also noted that, while promising, outcomes at this early time point involve a relatively small subset of patients and should be interpreted cautiously.

Reference:

1. Bailey C, Lange C, Chaudhary V, et al. SPECTRUM: early clinical experience from the first global real-world study of aflibercept 8 mg in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Eye. Published January 30, 2026.