New data presented at the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting highlighted continued innovation in AMD, with emerging therapies focused on extending treatment intervals, reducing injection burden and delivering more durable disease control
New data presented at the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting highlighted how the treatment landscape for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) continues to evolve beyond conventional anti-VEGF therapy. Across gene therapy, sustained-release drug delivery platforms and next-generation anti-VEGF strategies, investigators focused on a common challenge: how to maintain long-term visual and anatomical outcomes while reducing the burden of frequent intravitreal injections.
Key presentations included four-year data with ixoberogene soroparvovec (Ixo-vec) gene therapy, positive Phase 3 results for the sustained-release axitinib hydrogel OTX-TKI, three-year outcomes from the PULSAR Extension study of aflibercept 8 mg, and new evidence suggesting that anti-VEGF agents may have distinct effects on retinal function. Together, these studies provide insight into the future direction of nAMD management, with durability and treatment individualization emerging as major themes.
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Four-year OPTIC data support durable treatment reduction with Ixo-vec gene therapy
Long-term findings from the OPTIC trial provided further evidence for the potential of ixoberogene soroparvovec (Ixo-vec), an intravitreal gene therapy designed to deliver sustained anti-VEGF expression in patients with nAMD. Over four years of follow-up, a single administration of Ixo-vec reduced treatment burden by 86%, with almost half of participants remaining injection-free throughout the study period.
Visual acuity and anatomical outcomes were largely maintained, while the therapy continued to demonstrate a favourable safety profile with minimal late-stage inflammation. These findings suggest that gene therapy may offer a durable alternative to repeated anti-VEGF injections in selected patients with high treatment needs.
Presenting author Dr Carl Danzig shared his perspective on the long-term implications of the OPTIC study:
“A single intravitreal injection of Ixo-vec 2E11 vg/eye was well tolerated and resulted in sustained aqueous aflibercept concentrations, stable visual acuity and central subfield thickness, and a marked reduction in treatment burden in a high-need nAMD population.”
Abstract information: Danzig CJ et al. Ixoberogene soroparvovec (Ixo-vec) intravitreal gene therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD): Long-term results from the OPTIC trial. ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting; 3–7 May, 2026; Denver, Colorado.
Phase 3 SOL-1 trial demonstrates extended durability with OTX-TKI
The Phase 3 SOL-1 trial evaluated Axpaxli (OTX-TKI), a sustained-release intravitreal axitinib hydrogel, in treatment-naïve patients with nAMD. The study met its primary endpoint, with 74.1% of patients treated with OTX-TKI maintaining vision at Week 36 compared with 55.8% of patients receiving aflibercept.
The findings suggest that a single administration of OTX-TKI can provide durable disease control for many patients over a prolonged period. In addition to maintaining vision, the therapy demonstrated favourable anatomical outcomes and may represent a new approach to reducing injection frequency in routine clinical practice.
Dr Patricio Schlottman discussed the potential clinical significance of the findings:
“The SOL-1 Phase 3 data shared at ARVO highlight the clinical potential of OTX-TKI to transform the treatment of wet AMD. The data demonstrated that the majority of patients treated with OTX-TKI were able to reach 9 months without needing another injection, which in clinical practice represents a significant shift in how we may be able to maintain disease control while reducing treatment burden. These results highlight OTX-TKI’s ability to maintain vision and anatomic stability over extended intervals, with a well-tolerated safety profile, which reinforces the potential for longer-lasting therapies to meaningfully impact wet AMD care.”
Abstract information: Schlottman P et al. Intravitreal axitinib hydrogel (OTX-TKI) efficacy and safety evaluated in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) trial SOL-1. ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting; 3–7 May, 2026; Denver, Colorado.
Study suggests anti-VEGF agents may have distinct effects on retinal function
While anti-VEGF therapies have transformed outcomes for patients with nAMD, relatively little is known about their long-term effects on retinal physiology. A longitudinal electroretinography study presented at ARVO 2026 explored how different anti-VEGF agents influence retinal function over time.
The analysis suggested that aflibercept was associated with modest positive effects on both photoreceptor and bipolar cell function. In contrast, ranibizumab appeared to have a positive effect on photoreceptor function but a negative effect on bipolar cell activity. Although further investigation is needed, these findings highlight the possibility that anti-VEGF agents may exert different physiological effects on retinal tissue during prolonged treatment.
Abstract information: Piskun K et al. Anti-VEGF therapy for the treatment of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration affects retinal function. ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting; 3–7 May, 2026; Denver, Colorado.
Three-year PULSAR Extension data reinforce durability of aflibercept 8 mg
While the retinal function study highlighted the potential physiological effects of long-term anti-VEGF therapy, additional ARVO 2026 data focused on how treatment optimisation may further improve disease control while reducing injection burden. New analyses from the PULSAR Extension study provided further insight into the long-term performance of aflibercept 8 mg in patients with nAMD. Investigators assessed retinal fluid and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) outcomes through 156 weeks of follow-up.
Patients transitioned from aflibercept 2 mg to 8 mg experienced reduced fluid reaccumulation and required fewer injections while maintaining vision. The higher dose also resulted in sustained improvements in PED thickness and higher rates of fluid resolution compared with continued treatment at the 2 mg dose.
These findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting aflibercept 8 mg as an option for extending treatment intervals while maintaining anatomical control in patients requiring long-term therapy.
Abstract information: Stewart MW et al. PULSAR Extension: 156-week retinal fluid and PED outcomes in patients with nAMD receiving aflibercept 8mg. ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting; 3–7 May, 2026; Denver, Colorado.
Key takeaway
The AMD data presented at ARVO 2026 highlight a field increasingly focused on achieving durable disease control while reducing treatment burden. Long-term gene therapy data from OPTIC, positive Phase 3 results with the sustained-release OTX-TKI platform, three-year outcomes with aflibercept 8 mg and emerging insights into the physiological effects of anti-VEGF therapy all point towards a future in which treatment can be more personalised and less burdensome for patients. Together, these studies demonstrate the breadth of innovation currently shaping the next generation of nAMD management.
Cite: ARVO 2026: AMD innovations focus on durability, gene therapy and reducing treatment burdens. touchOPHTHALMOLOGY. 3rd June 2026.
Acknowledgment: This content has been developed independently by Touch Medical Media for touchOPHTHALMOLOGY. It is not affiliated with ARVO. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Touch Medical Media. No funding was received in the publication of this short article. Thank you to the presenting authors for sharing their perspectives.
