Real-World Efficacy of Faricimab in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Neovascular AgeRelated Macular Degeneration: Outcomes at Six Months
10.21561/jor.2024.9.2.150
- Author:
Seung Chul BAEK
1
;
Areum JEONG
;
Min SAGONG
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:
Journal of Retina
2024;9(2):150-155
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:To evaluate the efficacy of switching to faricimab (VabysmoTM; Roche/Genentech) treatment for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) that was resistant to other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies by assessing outcomes after 6 months.
Methods:We conducted a retrospective chart review of 102 nAMD patients who were switched to faricimab due to suboptimal responses to prior anti-VEGF treatments. Patients who showed persistent fluid on optical coherence tomography despite prior anti-VEGF injections every 4 to 8 weeks were treated with faricimab. We assessed changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), subfoveal choroidal thickness, maximum pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height, and fluid status at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after switching to faricimab. Treatment intervals before and after switching were compared.
Results:Six months after switching to faricimab, the mean BCVA improved (0.50 ± 0.12 logMAR to 0.45 ± 0.10 logMAR, p = 0.030), while the mean CST decreased from 353.3 ± 40.5 μm at baseline to 311.4 ± 35.4 μm (p = 0.012). The mean choroidal thickness did not significantly decrease after switching. The mean PED height decreased from 309.1 ± 32.1 μm at baseline to 279.1 ± 30.8 μm at 6 months (p = 0.040). The mean treatment interval extended from 5.7 ± 1.4 to 10.4 ± 1.8 weeks after switching (p = 0.001). Additionally, dry macula was achieved in 43.1% of patients, while 76.5% were classified as good responders, 6.5% as partial responders, and 17% reverted to other anti-VEGF treatments due to non-response.
Conclusions:Switching nAMD patients to faricimab for 6 months produced substantial improvements in visual acuity and anatomical outcomes, together with extended treatment intervals, reducing the injection burden. Faricimab could be an effective treatment option for nAMD, particularly for patients with inadequate responses to previous therapies.
