Safety and efficacy of Razumab™ (world’s first biosimilar ranibizumab) in wet age-related macular degeneration: a post-marketing, prospective ASSET study

BACKGROUND: Razumab™ (world’s first biosimilar ranibizumab) is approved for several macular disorders including wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We evaluated the safety and efficacy of biosimilar ranibizumab in wet AMD. METHODS: This prospective, multicentre, rAnibizumab bioSimilar Safety Efficacy postmarkeTing (ASSET) study enrolled patients aged ≥ 50 years with wet AMD having best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between 20/40 and 20/320. The patients received intravitreal biosimilar ranibizumab 0.5 mg every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Safety endpoints included the incidence of adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), and immunoreactivity after 6 months. The efficacy endpoints were the proportion of patients who lose fewer than 15 letters, increase in BCVA, change in central retinal thickness (CRT), and change in Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) score, from baseline to 24 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 126 enrolled patients, majority (95.24%) of the patients received all 6 doses of biosimilar ranibizumab (total 3 mg). Nineteen AEs were reported (n = 16; 12.7%); majority (78.9%) were mild. There were no serious AEs reported, except one AE of death which was unrelated to the study drug. None of the patients discontinued the study due to an AE. The most common ocular AE was increase in intraocular pressure (4 events) and non-ocular AE was pyrexia (5 events). A total of 7.9% (10/126) patients prior to dosing and 7.1% (9/126) patients post-treatment were positive for anti-ranibizumab antibodies. No AEs suggestive of immunogenicity were noted. At 24-weeks, 97.60% patients in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population (N = 125) and 97.41% patients in the per-protocol (PP) population (N = 116) lost < 15 letters from baseline visual acuity. In the ITT and PP populations, 31.20% and 32.76% patients, respectively, showed improved visual acuity by ≥ 15 letters. Significant improvements in BCVA (mean difference: 8.8, 9.2, p < 0.001 for ITT, PP) and VFQ-25 (8.5, 9.2, p < 0.001 for ITT, PP) were seen; CRT reduced significantly (125 µm, 119.3 µm, p < 0.001 for ITT, PP). CONCLUSION: Razumab™ (world’s first biosimilar ranibizumab) was well-tolerated without new safety concerns and significantly improved visual acuity in wet AMD patients. Trial registration CTRI/2016/03/006739. Registered 18 March 2016—Prospectively registered, http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?trialid=13141&EncHid=&userName=2016/03/006739 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40942-021-00293-w.