Byooviz is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s used to treat certain eye conditions affecting the retina or macula in adults. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. The macula is a small area near the center of the retina.

Specifically, Byooviz is FDA-approved to treat:

  • Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). With wet AMD, abnormal leaky blood vessels grow under your macula. This causes swelling and scarring of the macula and may lead to loss of vision. Another name for “wet” is “neovascular.”
  • Macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO). RVO is also known as eye stroke. With RVO, a blood clot blocks your retinal vein (the vein that drains blood from your retina). The blockage causes blood and fluid to leak into your macula, making it swell. This may cause loss of vision.
  • Myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). This condition can develop in a small number of people with severe myopia (nearsightedness).With mCNV, abnormal leaky blood vessels grow under your macula. This causes swelling of the macula and may lead to loss of vision.

Byooviz helps reduce vision loss caused by these eye conditions.

Drug details

Byooviz contains the active drug ranibizumab-nuna, which is a biologic. Biologics are drugs made using living cells. The reason “-nuna” appears at the end of the drug’s name is to show that the drug is distinct from similar medications that may be created in the future.

Byooviz belongs to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. These are sometimes called anti-VEGF drugs.

Byooviz comes as a liquid solution in a single-dose vial. It’s given as an injection into your eye by a healthcare professional.

FDA approval

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Byooviz for the eye conditions specified above in 2021. Byooviz is a biosimilar of the brand-name drug Lucentis. It was the first biosimilar of Lucentis to receive FDA approval. To learn more about biosimilars, see the section below called “Byooviz generic or biosimilar.”

Effectiveness

For information about the effectiveness of Byooviz, see the “Byooviz uses” section below.

Byooviz is a biologic drug that’s a biosimilar version of the brand-name drug Lucentis.

Biologics are drugs made using living cells. It’s not possible to make exact copies of biologics. However, it is possible to make drugs that are similar. These are called biosimilars. Biosimilars are just as safe and effective as the original brand-name drug they’re similar to (the parent or reference drug).

Most drugs are made from chemicals. It’s possible to make exact copies of brand-name drugs made from chemicals. These are called generics.

As with generics, biosimilars typically cost less than the brand-name drug they’re based on.

As with all medications, the cost of Byooviz can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan and your location.

Before approving coverage for Byooviz, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide whether the drug will be covered.

If you’re not sure whether you’ll need to get prior authorization for Byooviz, contact your insurance company.

Financial and insurance assistance

If you need financial support to pay for Byooviz or help to understand your insurance coverage, help is available.

A few programs are available for Byooviz. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 877-422-8360 or visit the drug manufacturer’s website.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Biosimilar form

Byooviz is a biosimilar version of the brand-name biologic drug Lucentis.

Biologics are drugs made using living cells. It’s not possible to make exact copies of biologics. However, it is possible to make drugs that are highly similar. These are called biosimilars. Biosimilars are just as safe and effective as the original brand-name drug they’re similar to (the parent or reference drug).

As with generics (copies of drugs made from chemicals), biosimilars typically cost less than the brand-name drug they’re based on.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Byooviz, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. Off-label drug use is when a drug that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Alternatives for wet age-related macular degeneration

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration include:

  • aflibercept (Eylea)
  • bevacizumab (Avastin)
  • brolucizumab-dbll (Beovu)
  • faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo)
  • ranibizumab (Lucentis)
  • ranibizumab (Susvimo)
  • ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli)
  • verteporfin (Visudyne)

Alternatives for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat macular edema following retinal vein occlusion include:

  • aflibercept (Eylea)
  • bevacizumab (Avastin)
  • brolucizumab-dbll (Beovu)
  • ranibizumab (Lucentis)
  • ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli)
  • dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex)
  • corticosteroid eye drops, tablets, or injections

Alternatives for myopic choroidal neovascularization

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat myopic choroidal neovascularization include:

  • aflibercept (Eylea)
  • bevacizumab (Avastin)
  • ranibizumab (Lucentis)
  • ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli)
  • verteporfin (Visudyne)

The following information describes Byooviz dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Byooviz comes as liquid solution in a single-dose vial. It’s available in one strength: 0.5 milligrams (mg) in 0.05 milliliters (mL).

Byooviz is given as an injection into your eye by a healthcare professional.

Dosage for wet age-related macular degeneration

The usual dose for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one injection (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) in the affected eye once per month.

After you’ve received 3 or 4 monthly injections, your doctor may recommend changing your dosage so you only get one injection once every 2 or 3 months. However, in clinical trials, Byooviz was less effective when given in this way. Your doctor will monitor your vision closely if they change your dose frequency.

Dosage for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion

The usual dosage for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is one injection (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) in the affected eye once per month.

Dosage for myopic choroidal neovascularization

The usual dose for myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) is one injection (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) in the affected eye once per month for up to 3 months.

Your doctor will monitor your vision closely after giving you up to 3 injections. If your vision worsens or doesn’t get better, they may repeat the treatment. Your doctor will recommend how many treatments are needed for your specific situation.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss an appointment to receive your Byooviz injection, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule.

To help make sure that you don’t miss an appointment, try setting a reminder on your phone. You can also put your treatment schedule on a calendar.

Will I need to use this drug long term?

For wet AMD and macular edema following RVO, Byooviz is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Byooviz is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.

For mCNV, Byooviz is typically only used for up to 3 months. However, your doctor may recommend using it for longer than this.

Byooviz can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Byooviz. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Byooviz, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Byooviz, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Byooviz. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Byooviz’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Byooviz can include:

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about allergic reaction and Byooviz, see “Allergic reaction” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Byooviz aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

  • Temporary increased pressure in the eye right after receiving the injection. Symptoms can include:
    • trouble opening or closing your eye
    • throbbing sensation behind the affected eye
    • eye pain
    • headache
  • Endophthalmitis (infection inside the eye). Symptoms can include:
    • blurry vision
    • eye pain or redness
    • increased sensitivity to light
  • Retinal detachment (separation of the retina from the back of the eye). Symptoms can include:
    • blurry vision
    • seeing a dark shadow across your vision
    • suddenly seeing lots of floaters (moving dots, lines, or squiggles in your vision)
    • seeing flashes of light
  • Cataracts (a type of eye problem). Symptoms can include:
    • blurry or cloudy vision
    • seeing colors as faded
    • trouble seeing at night
    • seeing halos around lights
    • double vision in the affected eye
  • Blood clots that may cause a heart attack or stroke. Symptoms can include:
    • chest pain or pressure that may spread to the shoulder or arm
    • dizziness
    • nausea
    • sweating
    • trouble breathing, speaking, or walking
    • sudden numbness or weakness in one side of the body, especially the face or arm
  • Severe allergic reaction.*

* For details about allergic reaction and Byooviz, see “Allergic reaction” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after receiving Byooviz. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of this drug but can still occur.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
  • trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Byooviz, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Byooviz to treat certain conditions.

Byooviz is FDA-approved to treat certain eye conditions affecting the retina or macula.

The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. It changes light into nerve signals that your brain processes to produce your vision. The macula is a small area near the center of the retina. It’s responsible for producing sharp, clear, central (directly ahead of you) vision. It also helps you see color and movement. The rest of your retina produces your peripheral (side) vision.

You can learn more about vision, eye health, and the eye conditions that Byooviz treats in our hub for eye health.

Byooviz for wet age-related macular degeneration

Byooviz is FDA-approved to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in adults. Another name for “wet” is “neovascular.”

Wet age-related macular degeneration explained

Wet AMD is a condition that can affect your central vision as you get older. It occurs when abnormal leaky blood vessels grow under your macula. These blood vessels leak fluid and blood into the macula, which causes swelling and scarring of the macula.

Wet AMD causes your central vision to get progressively worse. However, your peripheral vision isn’t affected.

Symptoms of wet AMD can include:

  • darkness and blurriness in the center of your vision
  • trouble seeing fine detail straight ahead of you
  • seeing colors as washed out
  • trouble reading, seeing faces, and driving

Byooviz treats wet AMD by reducing the growth of abnormal blood vessels under your macula. It also reduces leaking from the blood vessels under your macula.

Effectiveness for wet age-related macular degeneration

Byooviz is an effective treatment for wet AMD. It can slow or stop worsening of your vision. In some people, it can also improve vision.

Byooviz belongs to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. These are also called anti-VEGF drugs. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends using anti-VEGF drugs to treat wet AMD.

To find out how Byooviz performed in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Byooviz for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion

Byooviz is FDA-approved to treat macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in adults.

Macular edema following retinal vein occlusion explained

Macular edema is swelling of the macula. This can happen if you have an RVO, which is a blockage in your retinal vein.

With RVO, a blood clot blocks your retinal vein (the vein that takes blood from your retina back to your heart). If the blockage is in the main retinal vein, it’s called central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). If it occurs in one of the smaller branches off the main retinal vein, it’s called branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

The blockage causes blood and fluid to leak into your macula. This produces swelling in the macula that causes trouble with central vision. The blockage also affects the blood circulation through your retina, which can damage the cells there and may lead to worsening vision loss.

Symptoms of macular edema following RVO can include:

  • blurry vision or loss of vision that develops suddenly or over a few hours or days
  • seeing floaters (moving dots, lines, or squiggles in your vision)
  • seeing straight lines as wavy or distorted
  • pain or feeling of pressure in the eye

Byooviz treats macular edema following RVO by reducing leaking from the blood vessels under your macula.

Effectiveness for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion

Byooviz is an effective treatment for macular edema following RVO. It can slow or stop worsening of your vision. In some people, it can also improve vision.

Byooviz belongs to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. These are also called anti-VEGF drugs. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends using anti-VEGF drugs to treat macular edema following RVO.

To find out how Byooviz performed in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Byooviz for myopic choroidal neovascularization

Byooviz is FDA-approved to treat myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) in adults.

Myopic choroidal neovascularization explained

Myopic is the medical term used to describe nearsightedness. If you have myopia, you have trouble seeing things that are far away. With myopia, your eye may be longer than average from front to back. Sometimes, this can lead to problems with your retina, such as retinal thinning or damage.

mCNV is a condition that can develop in some people with myopia. With mCNV, problems with your retina cause abnormal leaky blood vessels to grow under your macula. This causes swelling of the macula and leads to loss of vision.

Symptoms of mCNV can include:

  • sudden darkness or blurriness in the center of your vision
  • seeing straight lines as wavy or distorted

Effectiveness for myopic choroidal neovascularization

Byooviz is an effective treatment for mCNV. It can stop your vision from getting worse. In some people, it can also improve vision.

Byooviz belongs to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. These are also called anti-VEGF drugs. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends using anti-VEGF drugs to treat mCNV.

To find out how Byooviz performed in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Byooviz and children

Byooviz isn’t FDA-approved for use in children under age 18 years. It hasn’t been studied in this age group. It’s not known if Byooviz is safe or effective in children.

Byooviz isn’t known to interact with alcohol.

If you drink alcohol and have questions about consuming it during treatment with Byooviz, talk with your doctor.

Byooviz may interact with photodynamic therapy (PDT), which is a treatment that’s sometimes used for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). PDT involves using a laser to activate a drug called verteporfin (Visudyne). Using Byooviz with PDT may cause serious eye inflammation (swelling).

Byooviz is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, or foods. The manufacturer of Byooviz didn’t look at interactions in clinical trials of the drug.

However, this doesn’t mean that interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new drugs could be approved that interact with Byooviz.

Before starting Byooviz treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Byooviz is given as an intravitreal injection, which is an injection into your eye. Your ophthalmologist (eye specialist) will administer Byooviz injections in their office or clinic.

Before administering the injection, your ophthalmologist will wash your eye with an antiseptic solution to help prevent infection. Then they’ll numb your eye with a local anesthetic.

Byooviz is injected into the white part of your eye using a very fine needle. You typically won’t see or feel the needle. The medication goes into the vitreous, which is the jelly like substance inside your eye.

After administering the injection, your ophthalmologist will check the pressure in your eye. If it’s too high, they’ll treat this right away.

When it’s administered

You’ll typically receive an injection of Byooviz once per month. However, if you have wet age-related macular degeneration, your ophthalmologist may recommend receiving Byooviz less frequently.

Your ophthalmologist will recommend how often you should receive Byooviz.

Byooviz is used to treat the following eye conditions:

What happens with the eye conditions Byooviz treats

The eye conditions Byooviz treats affect the retina or macula. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. It changes light into nerve signals that your brain processes to produce your vision. The macula is a small area near the center of the retina. It allows you to see sharp details, color, and movement directly in front of you.

With wet AMD and mCNV, abnormal blood vessels grow under your macula. These leak blood and fluid into the macula, causing it to swell.

With macular edema following RVO, a blood clot blocks your retinal vein (the vein that drains blood from your retina). The blockage makes blood and fluid leak into your macula, making it swell.

With these eye conditions, the swelling in your macula causes your central vision to become blurry and dark. Without treatment, your vision can get progressively worse.

What Byooviz does

Byooviz belongs to a group of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. These are sometimes called anti-VEGF drugs.

VEGF is a protein that makes blood vessels become leaky. It also stimulates new blood vessels to grow.

With the eye conditions Byooviz treats, high levels of VEGF are produced in the eye.

Anti-VEGF drugs such as Byooviz work by blocking the actions of VEGF. This reduces swelling of the macula, which can slow or stop vision loss. In some people it can also reverse some vision loss and improve vision.

How long does it take to work?

Byooviz starts working right after your first injection. However, you might not notice it working. Byooviz doesn’t improve vision in everyone. If Byooviz stops your vision stops getting worse, you might not be aware of this. If Byooviz improves your vision, it may take a few months before you notice the change.

You’ll have frequent eye tests to monitor how well Byooviz is working for you.

It’s not known if Byooviz is safe to receive during pregnancy. It hasn’t been studied in people who are pregnant.

In some animal studies, ranibizumab (the active drug in Lucentis, which Byooviz is a biosimilar of) caused fetal harm when administered to pregnant females. However, in these studies, ranibizumab was used in doses higher than those given to humans. In animal studies where ranibizumab was used in doses similar to those used in humans, the drug didn’t cause fetal harm.

Animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans. However, based on the way Byooviz works, the drug may affect fetal development if used during pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of receiving Byooviz.

Byooviz and fertility

It’s not known if Byooviz can affect fertility. However, based on how Byooviz works, it may affect your ability to conceive.

If you’re planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before receiving Byooviz.

It’s not known if Byooviz is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Byooviz.

For more information about taking Byooviz during pregnancy, see the “Byooviz and pregnancy” section above.

It’s not known if it’s safe to breastfeed while receiving Byooviz. The drug hasn’t been studied in people who are breastfeeding.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your child while receiving Byooviz.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Byooviz.

Does Byooviz cause long-term side effects?

Byooviz isn’t known to cause long-term side effects. Long-term side effects weren’t reported in clinical trials of Byooviz.

However, on rare occasions, Byooviz injections may cause an infection in your eye, a detached retina, or a cataract. If these side effects aren’t treated promptly, they could lead to long-term loss of vision. If you have symptoms of these side effects after receiving Byooviz, talk with your doctor right away. Symptoms to look out for include eye pain or redness, sensitivity to light, or any changes in your vision. These include blurry vision and suddenly seeing floaters or flashes of light.

Long-term treatment with Byooviz doesn’t seem to increase the risk of side effects. In clinical trials, Byooviz was used for up to 2 years.

If you have additional questions about long-term side effects of Byooviz, talk with your doctor.

Can I use eye drops while receiving Byooviz?

Yes, you can use certain eye drops while receiving Byooviz, if recommended by your ophthalmologist (eye specialist). For example, your ophthalmologist may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to help prevent an eye infection after a Byooviz injection.

After receiving an injection of Byooviz, your eye may feel sore or irritated. However, you should not use eye drops to relieve these symptoms without checking with your ophthalmologist first.

If you have worsening eye pain or redness, sensitivity to light, or changes in your vision, call your ophthalmologist right away. These could be symptoms of an eye infection or detached retina, which are serious side effects that need urgent treatment.

Will Byooviz cure macular degeneration?

No, unfortunately, Byooviz won’t cure macular degeneration. Currently, there’s no cure for this condition.

However, if you have wet age-related macular degeneration, regular treatment with Byooviz can help slow or stop your vision from worsening. And for some people, it can also reverse some vision loss and improve vision.

If you have questions about treatment with Byooviz, talk with your doctor.

This drug comes with several precautions. These are considered drug-condition interactions.

Before taking Byooviz, talk with your doctor about your health history. Byooviz may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:

  • Eye infection. If you have an infection in or around your eye, your doctor will likely not administer Byooviz until the infection has been managed.Byooviz could make the infection worse, which could lead to permanent vision loss. Your doctor may prescribe treatment for the infection and reschedule your appointment to receive Byooviz.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Byooviz or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Byooviz. Ask your doctor about other medications that may be better options for you.
  • Glaucoma. Byooviz injections can temporarily increase the pressure in your eye. If you have glaucoma, Byooviz could make this condition worse. Talk with your doctor about whether Byooviz is right for you.
  • Pregnancy. It’s not known if Byooviz is safe to receive during pregnancy. For more information, see the “Byooviz and pregnancy” section above.
  • Breastfeeding. It’s not known if it’s safe to breastfeed while receiving Byooviz. For more information, see the “Byooviz and breastfeeding” section above.

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Byooviz, see the “Byooviz side effects” section above.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.