Drug reference
Pegaptanib
Monoclonal Antibody · Ophthalmic
Also known as MACUGEN
Monoclonal AntibodyOphthalmic
CDSCO approvedSchedule H
EXCRETION
—
not curated
INTERACTIONS
—
none in our sources
PREGNANCY
—
not curated
Mechanism
Pegaptanib is a selective vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonist. It is a pegylated anti-VEGF aptamer, a single strand of nucleic acid that binds to the major pathological VEGF isoform, extracellular VEGF165, thereby inhibiting VEGF165 binding to VEGF receptors. VEGF165 induces angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability and inflammation, all of which are thought to contribute to the progression of the neovascular (wet) form of ARMD.
Indications
Neovascular (wet) age-related macular degenerationMacular degeneration
Dosing
- Adult
- 0.3 mg by intravitreal injection. Dose levels higher than 0.3 mg did not demonstrate additional benefit.
- Max dose
- 0.3 mg
Side effects
Serious
- elevation in IOP
- endophthalmitis
- anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions (rare)
Related guidelines
Other Monoclonal Antibody drugs
Ask House about Pegaptanib
Continue into a citation-backed clinical answer with the drug context already attached.
Sources: Goodman & Gilman 14e, Katzung, BNF·Verified: 2026-05-10 · House clinical team