Pharmacologic and clinical profile of dexamethasone intravitreal implant.

The challenge in the treatment of chronic retinal diseases is to deliver effective therapy to the target tissues in the back of the eye while limiting drug exposure in nontarget tissues. Intravitreal placement provides the most targeted drug delivery, but repeated penetration of the globe to deliver intravitreal therapy can pose safety risks. A more effective strategy for the treatment of chronic retinal diseases would be to combine intravitreal placement with sustained drug delivery. The dexamethasone intravitreal (DEX) implant is a biodegradable sustained-release intravitreal drug delivery system that is approved for the treatment of macular edema following branch or central retinal vein occlusion and for noninfectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye. A single DEX implant has been shown to provide clinical benefits for up to 6 months in eyes with retinal vein occlusion or intermediate or posterior uveitis.