Wet AMD is primarily treated by targeting which biologic pathway?

Wet AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) is primarily treated by targeting the VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) pathway. This is because VEGF plays a crucial role in neovascularization, which is the process of new blood vessel formation that contributes to the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in wet AMD. Elevated levels of VEGF lead to increased vascular permeability and the formation of abnormal blood vessels in the retina, resulting in damage to the retinal cells and vision loss.

By inhibiting VEGF, treatments can effectively reduce the growth and permeability of these abnormal blood vessels, thereby stabilizing vision and, in some cases, improving it. Anti-VEGF therapies, such as ranibizumab and aflibercept, are commonly used in clinical practice to manage wet AMD and mitigate its effects.

While other pathways like PDGF, EGF, and FGF are involved in various aspects of cellular growth and repair, they are not the primary targets in the treatment of wet AMD, as they do not play as central a role in the pathophysiology of the condition as VEGF does. Therefore, focusing on the VEGF pathway is critical for effective management of wet AMD.