Wet AMD is currently the primary revenue generator due to established diagnostic criteria, high treatment urgency, and the widespread use of anti-VEGF therapies. However, the Dry AMD segment is emerging as a major growth engine following recent regulatory approvals for drugs targeting geographic atrophy (GA).
Eylea (aflibercept) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) are the market leaders. Eylea holds a dominant position due to its flexible dosing options and high clinician trust, while Lucentis maintains a strong global presence through government health schemes and specialty pharmacy networks.
To combat the burden of frequent intravitreal injections and inconsistent patient adherence, pharmaceutical innovators are developing long-acting injectables and dual-pathway drugs. For example, Roche’s Vabysmo offers bi-monthly dosing, and high-dose aflibercept 8 mg aims to provide efficacy with fewer injections.
In October 2023, the FDA approved Iveric Bio’s Zimura (avacincaptad pegol) for geographic atrophy, a late-stage form of Dry AMD. Additionally, Apellis Pharmaceuticals has initiated global surveillance for Syfovre, marking a shift toward addressing previously underserved Dry AMD subtypes.
The population over 65 is projected to exceed 1.5 billion by 2050. Since age is a primary risk factor for AMD, this demographic shift, combined with rising rates of lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes, is creating sustained demand for advanced therapeutics.
AI-supported imaging and teleophthalmology are streamlining early detection and patient triaging. Furthermore, the rise of online pharmacies and specialty pharmacy models is improving medication adherence by offering auto-refill features and home delivery for elderly patients with mobility constraints.
While North America currently leads the market due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to register the fastest growth. This is driven by a massive elderly population surge in countries like China, Japan, and India, alongside expanding health insurance coverage.
Key obstacles include the high cost of biologic therapies, reimbursement limitations, and the clinical complexity of developing drugs for Dry AMD. Additionally, patient compliance remains a challenge due to the invasive nature of repetitive intravitreal injections.
The market is shifting toward "precision ophthalmology," with heavy R&D investment in gene therapy, stem-cell modulation, and neuroprotection. These regenerative therapies promise long-term vision restoration and could potentially move the industry beyond maintenance treatments to curative solutions.
