The following is a summary of “Durability and Efficacy of Faricimab in Treatment-Resistant Retinal Edema Utilizing “Real-World” Dosing Regimens,” published in the November 2024 issue of Ophthalmology by Savant et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine the clinical effects of patients with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration or diabetic macular edema changed to intravitreal faricimab injections (IFIs) by a real-world treat-and-extend (TAE) protocol.
They evaluated 71 eyes from 62 patients who received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections before and after transitioning to IFI, demographic and clinical information was gathered for analysis. The primary endpoints were the extension of treatment intervals and the presence of intraretinal or subretinal fluid on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) following the switch to IFI while, the secondary endpoints were best-corrected visual acuity, average OCT central subfield thickness, and the presence and height of pigment epithelium detachment.
The results showed a significant increase in the average treatment interval after switching to IFI, from 37.6 ± 10.8 days to 45.2 ± 16.6 days (P = 0.0016). At the last follow-up, 35% of eyes achieved a fluid-free status. A chi-square test confirmed a notable difference in OCT findings, trending towards less or no fluid (X2[3, N = 71] = 13.0705; P = 0.0003). The average central subfield thickness decreased from 327.2 ± 89.1 μm to 294.8 ± 86.5 μm (P = 0.0294). The best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, pigment epithelium detachment presence, and height showed no significant change after switching to IFI.
They concluded that switching to IFIs significantly increased the treatment interval, reduced central subfield thickness, and improved fluid status in eyes with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration or diabetic macular edema.
Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2024/8583348
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