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Brolucizumab Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 19, 2024.

Applies to brolucizumab: intraocular solution.

Serious side effects of Brolucizumab

Along with its needed effects, brolucizumab may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking brolucizumab:

More common

Less common

Other side effects of Brolucizumab

Some side effects of brolucizumab may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to brolucizumab: intravitreal solution.

General

The most commonly reported adverse reactions have included blurred vision, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain, and vitreous floaters.[Ref]

Ocular

Very common (10% or more): Blurred vision

Common (1% to 10%): Cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, vitreous floaters, eye pain, intraocular inflammation, increased intraocular pressure, retinal hemorrhage, vitreous detachment, conjunctivitis, retinal pigment epithelial tear, corneal abrasion

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blindness, punctate keratitis, retinal tear, endophthalmitis, retinal artery occlusion, retinal detachment, conjunctival hyperemia, lacrimation increased, abnormal sensation in the eye, detachment of retinal pigment epithelium[Ref]

Blurred vision was reported in 10% of patients and included the following events: vision blurred, visual acuity reduced, visual acuity reduced transiently and visual impairment. Intraocular inflammation was reported in 4% of patients and included the following events: anterior chamber cell, anterior chamber flare, anterior chamber inflammation, chorioretinitis, eye inflammation, iridocyclitis, iritis, uveitis, vitreous haze, vitritis. Blindness was reported in 1% of patients and included the following events: blindness, blindness transient, amaurosis, and amaurosis fugax.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Arterial thromboembolic events[Ref]

In the two 96-week controlled clinical trials in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, the ATE rate in the pooled brolucizumab arms was 4.5% (33/730) compared with 4.7% (34/729) in the pooled aflibercept arms. Arterial thromboembolic events were defined as nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or vascular death (including deaths of unknown cause).[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity included urticaria, rash, pruritus, and erythema.

Immunologic

Pretreatment anti-brolucizumab antibodies were detected in 36% to 52% of treatment naive patients. After dosing, anti-brolucizumab antibodies were detected in 53% to 67% of patients. Intraocular inflammation was observed in 6% of patients with anti-brolucizumab antibodies. The significance of anti-brolucizumab antibodies on safety and efficacy is unknown. As with all therapeutic proteins, the detection of an immune response is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. Comparing the incidence of antibody formation to other products may be misleading.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Anti-drug antibodies[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

References

1. Product Information. Beovu (brolucizumab ophthalmic). Novartis Pharmaceuticals. 2019.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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