What is "aflibercept"

n. A fusion protein under development for the treatment of cancer.

Aflibercept ( INN, USAN) is a biopharmaceutical drug invented by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, approved in the United States and Europe for the treatment of wet macular degeneration under the trade name Eylea, and for metastatic colorectal cancer as Zaltrap. As the active ingredient of Zaltrap, the substance is called ziv-aflibercept in the US.

It is an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Aflibercept is being co-developed for cancer treatment by Sanofi and Regeneron under a deal signed in 2003, and is being co-developed for eye diseases by Bayer HealthCare and Regeneron under a deal signed in 2006.