Genentech’s Vabysmo (faricimab), the first bispecific antibody to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular oedema (DMO), has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
In four phase 3 studies, wet AMD and DMO patients treated every four months with Vabysmo achieved non-inferior vision gains versus aflibercept given every two months in the first year. Vabysmo was generally well tolerated in all four studies, with a favourable benefit-risk profile, reported Genentech. The most common adverse reaction (≥5%) was conjunctival haemorrhage (7%).
Dr Charles Wykoff, director of research at Retina Consultants of Texas in Houston and a faricimab phase 3 investigator, said the drug’s inhibition of both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) pathways has been shown to have potentially complementary benefits, stabilising blood vessels and thereby reducing vessel leakage and inflammation. “We now have the opportunity to offer patients a medicine that could improve their vision, potentially lowering treatment burden with fewer injections over time,” he said.
