Use of a vegf antagonist to treat angiogenic eye disorders

A method for treating or preventing proliferative diabetic retinopathy in a patient in need of such treatment, said method comprising administering, to an eye of the patient,

• (i) 3 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 16 weeks, wherein the first secondary dose initiates 8 weeks after the third monthly dose (week 16), or
• (ii) 3 or 5 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 8 weeks;
• of about 2 mg of VEGF antagonist that is a VEGF receptor-based chimeric molecule;
• optionally in association with a further therapeutic agent or therapeutic procedure.

A method for preventing progression of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, anterior segment neovascularization, diabetic macular edema and/or center involved diabetic macular edema wherein the patient is initially treated for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy said method comprising administering, to an eye of the patient,

• (i) 3 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 16 weeks, wherein the first secondary dose initiates 8 weeks after the third monthly dose (week 16), or
• (ii) 3 or 5 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 8 weeks;
• of about 2 mg of VEGF antagonist that is a VEGF receptor-based chimeric molecule;
• optionally in association with a further therapeutic agent or therapeutic procedure.

A method for causing a reduction or preventing an increase in the Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (DRSS) level of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) in a patient comprising administering, to an eye of the patient,

• (i) 3 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 16 weeks, wherein the first secondary dose initiates 8 weeks after the third monthly dose (week 16), or
• (ii) 3 or 5 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 8 weeks;
• of about 2 mg of VEGF antagonist that is a VEGF receptor-based chimeric molecule;
• optionally in association with a further therapeutic agent or therapeutic procedure.

A method for treating or preventing the occurrence or re-occurrence of a vision threating complication or blindness, for maintaining or improving visual acuity, and/or for maintaining or reducing central retinal thickness in the eye of a subject whose eye has diabetic retinopathy comprising administering, to an eye of the subject,

• (i) 3 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 16 weeks, wherein the first secondary dose initiates 8 weeks after the third monthly dose (week 16), or
• (ii) 3 or 5 monthly doses followed by one or more secondary doses every 8 weeks;
• of about 2 mg of VEGF antagonist that is a VEGF receptor-based chimeric molecule;
• optionally in association with a further therapeutic agent or therapeutic procedure.