Despite the positive outcomes of anti-VEGF therapy, neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) remain major medical and social challenges, and optimization of their treatment is an urgent need.

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Vabysmo (faricimab) in the treatment of patients with nAMD and DME in real-world clinical practice in Russia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A multicenter retrospective analysis was conducted based on the medical records of 328 patients (370 eyes) with nAMD and 87 patients (112 eyes) with DME (both treatment-naïve and previously treated with anti-VEGF agents) who received faricimab from July 2023 to February 2025. The following primary effectiveness indicators were assessed: changes in visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) after the first four faricimab injections. Secondary outcome indicators included changes in VA, CRT, and selected disease biomarkers at 6, 12, and 18 months of treatment, as well as injection intervals during the maintenance phase.

RESULTS

After the first four consecutive faricimab injections, VA improved by 8.1 ETDRS letters (p<0.05) in the nAMD group and by 12.8 ETDRS letters (p<0.05) in the DME group. CRT decreased by 103.3 μm (p<0.05) and 177.4 μm (p<0.05), respectively. These improvements remained stable during further follow-up (8.78±4.51 months in the nAMD group and 10.48±5.24 months in the DME group, up to a maximum of 19 months in both groups). The proportion of patients who achieved injection intervals of ≥12 weeks was 27.9% in the nAMD group and 38.5% in the DME group.

CONCLUSION

Faricimab demonstrated high clinical effectiveness in real-world settings in patients with nAMD and DME, with the potential to reduce the treatment burden for patients and the healthcare system.