Eylea and Pregnancy

When Eylea (aflibercept) was given intravenously to pregnant rabbits in high doses, it increased the risk for birth defects. Due to the potential risks, it may not be safe for women to receive Eylea during pregnancy. However, because this drug is used to treat age-related macular degeneration, it is unlikely that a woman of childbearing age would use it.

Can Pregnant Women Receive Eylea?

Eylea™ (aflibercept) is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. This medicine may not be safe for use during pregnancy. Animal studies of Eylea suggest that it may cause problems.
 
Because Eylea is approved for treating age-related macular degeneration, which is a disease of the elderly, it would be unlikely for a woman of childbearing age to need this medication.
 

What Is Pregnancy Category C?

Eylea is classified as a pregnancy Category C drug.
 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been adequately studied in pregnant humans but have caused fetal harm in animal studies.
 
In addition, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.
 
When given to pregnant rabbits intravenously at very high doses (up to 2,900 times the exposure from the typical dose in humans), Eylea increased the risk for a variety of birth defects. It is unknown if the low doses used in humans could cause any problems. Notably, Eylea binds to and inhibits placental growth factor (PGF), a protein that may be important in pregnancy. It is unknown how Eylea's actions on PGF might affect a developing pregnancy.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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