In the ANCHOR AMD study, which treatment was revealed to be more effective than verteporfin PDT in respect of visual acuity?

In the ANCHOR AMD study, ranibizumab was shown to be more effective than verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) in improving visual acuity in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study specifically evaluated the safety and efficacy of ranibizumab and demonstrated significant improvements in visual outcomes compared to traditional PDT with verteporfin.

Ranibizumab is an anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) therapy that works by inhibiting the effects of VEGF, which is a key factor in choroidal neovascularization that often leads to vision loss in AMD. The ability to directly target and neutralize VEGF allows for better control over this pathological process, ultimately leading to improved visual acuity in patients treated with ranibizumab. The results of the ANCHOR study contributed to the adoption of anti-VEGF therapies as the first-line treatment for wet AMD, establishing it as a standard of care.

Other options such as bevacizumab and aflibercept are also anti-VEGF treatments but were not specifically evaluated in the ANCHOR study in comparison to verteporfin PDT. OCT-guided therapy refers to a management approach using optical coherence tomography to guide treatment