Effect of Adalimumab on Visual Functioning in Patients With Noninfectious Uveitis

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Andrew Dick FRSB FMedSci

Professor of Ophthalmology
Bristol Eye Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol, England
National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England and
John Sheppard, MD
President, Virginia Eye Consultants
Professor of Ophthalmology, Eastern Virginia Medical School

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Dr. Andrew Dick: These findings demonstrate that adalimumab is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in visual functioning for patients with non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis. The emphasis of this work is that for the first time in uveitis we have seen patient reported outcome benefit of a biologic treatment. This analysis supports the use of adalimumab as a promising new treatment option, having demonstrated improvements in both clinical and visual functioning outcomes in patients with active and inactive uveitis.

Dr. John SheppardUveitis has a substantial effect on individuals’ physical, professional, psychological, avocational and social functioning in day-to-day life. Adalimumab, an anti-inflammatory drug that binds to tumor necrosis factor, was recently approved for the treatment of non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis. It is the first systemic therapy specifically approved for uveitis.  The analyses in this study provide evidence that patients with noninfectious uveitis treated with adalimumab experience significant and clinically meaningful improvements in vision-related quality of life, compared with those who received placebo.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Andrew Dick: When evaluating novel treatments for uveitis, it is essential to investigate clinical endpoints as well as patient-reported quality of life.

Disclosures:

Dr Sheppard has received consulting fees from AbbVie, Alcon, Aldeyra, Allergan, Bausch & Lomb, and EyeGate. Dr Dick: has received consultant fees from AbbVie Inc, Novartis, and Q-Chips.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Sheppard J, Joshi A, Betts KA, Hudgens S, Tari S, Chen N, Skup M, Dick AD. Effect of Adalimumab on Visual Functioning in Patients With Noninfectious Intermediate Uveitis, Posterior Uveitis, and Panuveitis in the VISUAL-1 and VISUAL-2 Trials. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online April 20, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.0603

 

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Last Updated on April 23, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD