Monoclonal antibodies general aspects

The intraocular injection of active substances that are active in the eye leads to a bioavaUability of 100 %. However, this route of administration is a serious burden to the patient and formulation related safety aspects are of paramount importance since ehmination from the site of injection is generally slow. However, this route may be the only way to get an active substance to the site of action, or to get it in a sufficiently high concentration at the site of action (e.g., an antibiotic). Larger molecules such as monoclonal antibodies (e.g., bevacizumab or ranibizumab used against macular degeneration) are administered in this way to the eye. A further advantage of the intraocular route is that the large molecules are cleared slowly from the intraocular fluids and effects may last for days (or even weeks). 

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