New Wet AMD Drug Extends Time Between Injections

Adults with wet macular degeneration may someday need fewer eye injections, based on one-year trial data.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Diabetes

Close, sharp view of a glass syringe and metal needle resting on a pale stainless steel tray in a bright clinic room with soft daylight. — Kodiak Sciences reported one-year phase 3 DAYBREAK trial results for its wet AMD treatment Zenkuda, with 54% of patients going up to six months without fluid returning. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Kodiak Sciences reported one-year results from the phase 3 DAYBREAK trial of Zenkuda, a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. In the trial, 54% of patients who received Zenkuda went as long as 6 months without fluid reaccumulating, a finding relevant to people managing wet AMD and their retina specialists.

Why it matters

Wet AMD treatment often requires repeated injections to control fluid in the retina, so a longer interval between treatments would change the burden of care for patients. The one-year data give clinicians and patients an early look at whether a newer option could extend that interval compared with established injections.

This is a phase 3 trial reporting one year of data, comparing Zenkuda and KSI-501 against Eylea in patients with wet AMD. The headline figure is that 54% of Zenkuda-treated patients went up to 6 months without fluid reaccumulating.

The players

Kodiak Sciences

A biotechnology company developing ophthalmology treatments, including Zenkuda for wet age-related macular degeneration.

Regeneron

A biopharmaceutical company that manufactures Eylea (aflibercept), a widely used injected treatment for wet macular degeneration.

American Academy of Ophthalmology

A professional medical society of eye doctors that hosts an annual meeting where clinical eye research is presented.

The details

Wet AMD involves abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the retina that causes fluid buildup and vision loss. Zenkuda, whose active ingredient is tarcocimab tedromer, is designed to be given by injection into the eye, and in the DAYBREAK trial patients received four loading doses at the start of treatment. The trial results describe how long the effect lasted between treatments rather than a single cure.

The DAYBREAK one-year results were presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in New Orleans.

Health Landscape

Anti-VEGF injections such as Eylea have been the standard of care for wet AMD, with treatment often repeated at regular intervals. Newer agents like Zenkuda are being evaluated on whether they can lengthen the time between injections while controlling fluid in the retina.

If you have wet macular degeneration, a longer gap between injections would reduce how often you need eye treatments, which is worth raising with your retina specialist. Anyone already managing this condition should ask their doctor whether newer options with longer dosing intervals might fit their situation.

The takeaway

Results at one year are promising, but the key question of whether longer treatment intervals hold up will depend on second-year data. Patients with wet AMD can discuss with their eye doctor how treatment frequency and options fit their care plan.