Conbercept Improves Visual and Anatomical Outcomes in BRVO-Associated Macular Edema: Study
Researchers have found in a recent study that intravitreal 0.5 mg conbercept improved visual and anatomical outcomes in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion–associated macular edema (BRVO-ME), with low rates of ocular and systemic safety events. The study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology by Wenbin W. and colleagues.
For rigorous assessment of conbercept's efficacy and safety profile, a randomized clinical trial using 255 patients with BRVO-ME was undertaken. Patients were allocated to either the primary treatment group for conbercept or the control group on a 1:1 ratio. In the first phase, that is up until the end of the sixth month, patients in the conbercept group were administered intravitreal conbercept monthly (0.5 mg). After month six, patients in this group were administered under the pro re nata (PRN) regime.
In contrast, the control group underwent the deferred anti-VEGF therapy regime whereby only one dose of conbercept was administered during the sixth month, then PRN administration till the twelfth month. The primary outcome measure was the change in least squares mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) letters from baseline in 6 months.
Key findings:
- Comparative evaluation across the 255 trial participants demonstrated significant visual gains and anatomical fluid reductions in favor of conbercept treatment.
- The least square mean improvement in BCVA letter score from baseline was 16.9 ± 0.9 letters in the conbercept group compared to 8.9 ± 0.9 letters in the control group, demonstrating statistically significant early visual recovery (p < 0.0001).
- By month 12, visual acuity improvements remained significantly higher in the conbercept group at 17.1 ± 0.9 letters versus 14.1 ± 1.0 letters in the control group (p = 0.0252).
- Central retinal thickness (CRT) reductions from baseline were significantly greater in the conbercept group (-296.4 ± 9.0 µm) compared to controls (-233.9 ± 9.2 µm; p < 0.0001).
- Mean CRT changes at month 12 measured -270.0 ± 8.4 µm in the conbercept arm compared to -301.4 ± 8.6 µm in the control arm (p = 0.0095), while low rates of ocular and non-ocular adverse safety events were documented across both groups.
In summary, intravitreal injection of conbercept produces excellent vision benefits as well as impressive anatomic effects in eyes suffering from macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion. The results obtained from this research provide evidence that conbercept 0.5 mg is a highly potent, efficacious, and safe anti-VEGF treatment modality for restoring macular anatomy and vision.
Reference:
Wei, W., Shi, X., Li, X., Li, X., Han, Q., Zhang, Q., Sun, X., Ye, J., Chen, Y., Liu, X.-L., Wang, P., Zhang, M., Su, G., Wang, L., Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., Liu, Q., Zhang, Q., Huang, M., … Zheng, Q. (2026). Efficacy and safety of intravitreal conbercept injection in treating macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion: results from the BRAVE study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, bjo–2024-326355. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo-2024-326355
