DIET & NUTRITION 
PATIENT EDUCATION 
OBESITY/WEIGHT MANAGEMENT 
EXERCISE/TRAINING 
LEGAL MATTERS 
GUIDELINES/RECOMMENDATIONS ⚠️ Small Study / Early Comparative Evidence
The phase 3 CONDOR trial compared brolucizumab 6 mg against panretinal photocoagulation in 689 patients with untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy across 152 sites in 16 countries. PRP has been the mainstay therapy for PDR and severe NPDR for many years.
Clinical Considerations
- Brolucizumab patients maintained baseline visual acuity (LS mean change 0.2 letters) while PRP patients lost 4.2 letters at week 54.
- 63.6% of brolucizumab patients achieved no PDR at week 54 compared with 22.4% of PRP patients, with greater 2-step and 3-step DRSS improvements in the brolucizumab arm.
- Ocular adverse events occurred in 34.3% of brolucizumab patients vs 49.1% of PRP patients, though intraocular inflammation including retinal vasculitis affected 5.2% of brolucizumab patients vs 0.6% of PRP patients.
- Brolucizumab dosing involved 3 loading doses every 6 weeks followed by every 12 weeks, with intervals extendable to 24 weeks; PRP required 1 to 4 sessions through week 12 plus additional treatment as needed.
Practice Applications
- Consider brolucizumab as a suitable alternative to PRP in patients with PDR based on these 54-week findings.
- Recognize the established intraocular inflammation safety signal with brolucizumab, including retinal vasculitis.
- Integrate visit compliance, treatment burden, and cost considerations into treatment selection conversations.
- Monitor for the forthcoming 96-week analysis before drawing conclusions about longer-term comparative durability.
- Interpret findings within the context of industry sponsorship by the brolucizumab manufacturer.
