Pagenax Special Precautions

Endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, retinal vasculitis and/or retinal vascular occlusion: Intravitreal injections, including those with Pagenax, have been associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachment. Proper aseptic injection techniques must always be used when administering Pagenax.
Retinal vasculitis and/or retinal vascular occlusion, typically in the presence of intraocular inflammation, have been reported with the use of Pagenax (see Contraindications and Adverse Reactions).
Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of the above mentioned events without delay.
Intraocular pressure increases: Transient increases in intraocular pressure have been seen within 30 minutes of injection, similar to those observed with intravitreal administration of other VEGF inhibitors (see Adverse Reactions). Sustained intraocular pressure increases have also been reported with Pagenax. Special precaution is needed in patients with poorly controlled glaucoma (do not inject Pagenax while the intraocular pressure is ≥30 mmHg). Both intraocular pressure and perfusion of the optic nerve head must be monitored and managed appropriately.
Bilateral treatment: The safety and efficacy of brolucizumab administered in both eyes concurrently have not been studied.
Immunogenicity: As this is a therapeutic protein, there is a potential immunogenicity with brolucizumab (see Adverse Reactions). Patients should be instructed to inform their physician if they develop symptoms such as eye pain or increased discomfort, worsening eye redness, blurred or decreased vision, an increased number of small particles in their vision, or increased sensitivity to light (see Adverse Reactions).
Concomitant use of other anti-VEGF: There are no data available on the concomitant use of Pagenax with other anti-VEGF medicinal products in the same eye. Brolucizumab should not be administered concurrently with other anti-VEGF medicinal products (systemic or ocular).
Withholding treatment: In intravitreal anti-VEGF treatments, the dose should be withheld and treatment should not be resumed earlier than the next scheduled treatment in the event of: a decreased in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ≥30 letters compared with the last assessment of visual acuity; a retinal break; a subretinal haemorrhage involving the centre of the fovea, or, if the size of the haemorrhage is ≥50% of the total lesion area; performed or planned intraocular surgery within the previous or next 28 days.
Retinal pigment epithelial tear: Risk factors associated with the development of a retinal pigment epithelial tear after anti-VEGF therapy for wet AMD include a large and/or high pigment epithelial retinal detachment. When initiating brolucizumab therapy, caution should be used in patients with these risk factors for retinal pigment epithelial tears.
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment or macular holes: Treatment should be discontinued in subjects with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment or stage 3 or 4 macular holes.
Systemic effects following intravitreal use: Systemic adverse events, including non-ocular haemorrhages and arterial thromboembolic events, have been reported following intravitreal injection of VEGF inhibitors and there is a theoretical risk that these may relate to VEGF inhibition. There are limited data on safety in the treatment of patients with AMD with a history of stroke, transient ischaemic attacks or myocardial infarction within the last 3 months. Caution should be exercised when treating such patients.
Driving and using machines: Patients may experience temporary visual disturbances after an intravitreal injection with Pagenax and the associated eye examination, and should therefore be advised not to drive or use machinery until visual function has recovered sufficiently.