Beovu
Beovu (brolucizumab) is an injection into the back space of the eye to help treat wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). This medication is given to you by your healthcare provider once a month for 3 months, then you'll only need it once every 2 to 3 months.
What is Beovu (brolucizumab)?
What is Beovu (brolucizumab) used for?
- Treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)
How Beovu (brolucizumab) works
With wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow in the eye and leak fluid into the back of the eye (the macula). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a protein that plays a role in making these new blood vessels.
Beovu (brolucizumab) is a VEGF inhibitor. This means it blocks VEGF, which helps slow the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
Drug facts
Side effects of Beovu (brolucizumab)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Blurry vision (10%)
- Cataract (7%)
- Red patch on the eye (6%)
- Eye floaters (5%)
- Eye pain (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Eye inflammation
- Greater pressure in the eye
- Abnormal bleeding in the eye
- Watery eyes
- Feeling like something is in your eye
- Itchiness, rash, or redness around injection area
Beovu (brolucizumab) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Retinal detachment: flashing lights, shadow or dark curtain across your field of vision, vision loss
- Unusual changes in your vision
The following Beovu (brolucizumab) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Blurry vision, vision loss, seeing wavy or bent objects or blind spots with dark, light, or flashing spots
- Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded
- New or worsening eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge
- Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
- Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Blurry vision
- Eye pain
- Increased tears after use
Pros and cons of Beovu (brolucizumab)
Pros
- Only need to get eye injection once every 2 to 3 months (after a few starter doses); less often than the Eylea (afilbercept) alternative
- Can help improve visual sharpness (e.g., gain 7 letters on an eye chart at your eye specialist's office)
- Shown in studies to be safe and work well for people older than age 65
Cons
- Must get as an injection in your eye
- Causes more eye inflammation (swelling) than the Eylea (afilbercept) alternative
- Risk of serious eye-related issues
Pharmacist tips for Beovu (brolucizumab)
- Ask your eye specialist about the best ways to check your vision at least once a week. This way, you can let your provider know right away if you notice any vision changes during treatment with Beovu (brolucizumab).
- Be sure to stay on track with the treatment plan your provider creates for you. Wet AMD is a long-term condition, so you'll need to receive Beovu (brolucizumab) regularly to manage your symptoms.
- Research suggests that certain lifestyle changes can help delay the worsening of your vision due to wet AMD. These lifestyle changes include eating a vitamin- and mineral-rich diet (such as green, leafy vegetables), staying active, and avoiding smoking.
Common questions about Beovu (brolucizumab)
Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) is an eye condition that causes eye symptoms like blurred vision, wavy lines, dull colors, or blind spots. The condition develops when blood vessels grow abnormally in the back of the eye (macula). It's one of the leading causes of vision loss in people older than 50.
Your provider will give you anesthesia before the injection, which will help numb the area so you won't feel anything. If you do feel pain or notice changes in your vision, tell your provider right away. They will check for any issues, like retinal detachment.
At first, you'll need to get a Beovu (brolucizumab) injection once a month. After a few months, your provider will then decide if you should get an injection once every 2 months or once every 3 months. This will depend on your individual situation. In clinical studies, over half of participants were on a 3-month dosing schedule through the first year.
You shouldn't receive Beovu (brolucizumab) if you have an active infection in or around your eye. Talk with your provider if you notice signs of an eye infection, including eye irritation, sensitivity to light, thick or watery discharge, redness of the eye or eyelid, or eyelid inflammation.
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Risks and warnings for Beovu (brolucizumab)
Beovu (brolucizumab) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe eye inflammation and separation of the retina from the back of the eye (retinal detachment)
Beovu (brolucizumab) can cause severe eye inflammation and retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is a condition where your retina (tissue in the back of your eye that senses light and helps you see) pulls away from its normal place in your eye. When this happens, you can experience flashing lights, changes in your vision, or vision loss. Let your provider know if you have eye pain (a sign of eye inflammation), trouble seeing, or anything that seems unusual about your vision.
Issues with your eye(s)
- Risk factors: Inflammation inside the eye
There is a risk for eye problems with Beovu (brolucizumab), even just after your first dose. Problems can include retinal vasculitis (swollen vessels of the retina), retinal vascular occlusion (blockage of the small veins that carry blood away from the retina), or greater pressure inside your eye. Remember to go to your follow-up appointments so your provider can examine your eye and make sure there are no serious issues.
Greater risk of a clot
Generally, VEGF inhibitors like Beovu (brolucizumab) have the potential risk of clotting events (e.g., stroke, heart attack, death) when injected in the eye. In clinical studies, 4.5% of people receiving Beovu (brolucizumab) experienced a clotting event. Get medical help right away if you experience signs of a clot (e.g., shortness of breath, fast breathing, chest pain), stroke (e.g., sudden weakness, loss of balance, trouble speaking), or heart attack (e.g., chest or arm pain).
Beovu (brolucizumab) dosage
Typical dosage for Beovu (brolucizumab)
Beovu (brolucizumab) is usually given by your eye specialist (ophthalmologist) either in their office or another healthcare setting.
In general, you'll get a 6 mg dose injected into the back of your eye once every month for the first 3 months. Then, you'll only need a 6 mg dose once every 2 to 3 months.
Beovu (brolucizumab) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Beovu (brolucizumab) will not be safe for you to take.
- Infections in or around the eyeball
- Eye inflammation or swelling
What are alternatives to Beovu (brolucizumab)?
Conditions related to swelling or damage to the macula or retina (parts of the eye that are important for vision):
Lucentis and all its biosimilars
Lucentis and Cimerli biosimilar only