Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian Population
Abstract Introduction Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, with some eyes showing recalcitrant disease despite standard anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. While clinical trials have demonstrated promising efficacy and safety...
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Adis, Springer Healthcare
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Ophthalmology and Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-025-01163-6 |
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| author | Yen-An Lai Mei-Chi Tsui Shuo-Fang Cheng Yi-Ting Hsieh Tso-Ting Lai Yun Hsia Shih-Wen Wang I-Hsin Ma Kuo-Chi Hung Chang-Pin Lin Chang-Hao Yang Chung-May Yang Tzyy-Chang Ho |
| author_facet | Yen-An Lai Mei-Chi Tsui Shuo-Fang Cheng Yi-Ting Hsieh Tso-Ting Lai Yun Hsia Shih-Wen Wang I-Hsin Ma Kuo-Chi Hung Chang-Pin Lin Chang-Hao Yang Chung-May Yang Tzyy-Chang Ho |
| author_sort | Yen-An Lai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, with some eyes showing recalcitrant disease despite standard anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. While clinical trials have demonstrated promising efficacy and safety of faricimab in treatment-naïve patients, only 9% of participants were Asian, and real-world data on its effectiveness in pretreated Asian populations remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and longitudinal response of intravitreal faricimab in patients with recalcitrant nAMD in Taiwan by analyzing visual acuity, anatomical outcomes, and treatment interval extension over a 6-month period. Methods This was a retrospective observational study at National Taiwan University Hospital. Patients switched to intravitreal faricimab (6 mg/0.05 mL; Vabysmo™) from July 2023 to May 2024 with 6 months follow-up identified via electronic medical records. Injections were administered without a loading phase. Retreatment was guided by the presence of retinal fluid on optical coherence tomography (OCT), with or without visual decline. Results A total of 33 eyes from 28 patients were analyzed. Visual acuity remained stable over 6 months (p = 0.147). Central retinal thickness significantly improved from 267 to 235 μm at 3 months (p = 0.002) and remained stable at 6 months (p = 0.003). Subretinal fluid resolved in 36.4% of eyes at 3 months (p < 0.001) and 48.5% at 6 months (p = 0.002), while changes in intraretinal fluid (IRF) and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height were not significant. Treatment intervals were extended in 52% of eyes, with 56% reaching ≥ 16 weeks (Q16W) intervals. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events were reported. Conclusions Intravitreal faricimab demonstrated improved anatomical outcomes with stable visual acuity and extended treatment intervals in patients with recalcitrant nAMD in Taiwan, addressing a key evidence gap. Future studies with longer follow-ups are needed to validate these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-43df81735a7e4c23877cef37656eb262 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2193-8245 2193-6528 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Adis, Springer Healthcare |
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| series | Ophthalmology and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-43df81735a7e4c23877cef37656eb2622025-08-20T03:46:03ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareOphthalmology and Therapy2193-82452193-65282025-06-011481723173710.1007/s40123-025-01163-6Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian PopulationYen-An Lai0Mei-Chi Tsui1Shuo-Fang Cheng2Yi-Ting Hsieh3Tso-Ting Lai4Yun Hsia5Shih-Wen Wang6I-Hsin Ma7Kuo-Chi Hung8Chang-Pin Lin9Chang-Hao Yang10Chung-May Yang11Tzyy-Chang Ho12School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Taiwan Adventist HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University HospitalAbstract Introduction Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, with some eyes showing recalcitrant disease despite standard anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. While clinical trials have demonstrated promising efficacy and safety of faricimab in treatment-naïve patients, only 9% of participants were Asian, and real-world data on its effectiveness in pretreated Asian populations remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and longitudinal response of intravitreal faricimab in patients with recalcitrant nAMD in Taiwan by analyzing visual acuity, anatomical outcomes, and treatment interval extension over a 6-month period. Methods This was a retrospective observational study at National Taiwan University Hospital. Patients switched to intravitreal faricimab (6 mg/0.05 mL; Vabysmo™) from July 2023 to May 2024 with 6 months follow-up identified via electronic medical records. Injections were administered without a loading phase. Retreatment was guided by the presence of retinal fluid on optical coherence tomography (OCT), with or without visual decline. Results A total of 33 eyes from 28 patients were analyzed. Visual acuity remained stable over 6 months (p = 0.147). Central retinal thickness significantly improved from 267 to 235 μm at 3 months (p = 0.002) and remained stable at 6 months (p = 0.003). Subretinal fluid resolved in 36.4% of eyes at 3 months (p < 0.001) and 48.5% at 6 months (p = 0.002), while changes in intraretinal fluid (IRF) and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height were not significant. Treatment intervals were extended in 52% of eyes, with 56% reaching ≥ 16 weeks (Q16W) intervals. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events were reported. Conclusions Intravitreal faricimab demonstrated improved anatomical outcomes with stable visual acuity and extended treatment intervals in patients with recalcitrant nAMD in Taiwan, addressing a key evidence gap. Future studies with longer follow-ups are needed to validate these findings.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-025-01163-6Anti-VEGF agentsAng/Tie pathwayAsianFaricimabIntravitreal injectionsNeovascular aged-related macular degeneration |
| spellingShingle | Yen-An Lai Mei-Chi Tsui Shuo-Fang Cheng Yi-Ting Hsieh Tso-Ting Lai Yun Hsia Shih-Wen Wang I-Hsin Ma Kuo-Chi Hung Chang-Pin Lin Chang-Hao Yang Chung-May Yang Tzyy-Chang Ho Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian Population Ophthalmology and Therapy Anti-VEGF agents Ang/Tie pathway Asian Faricimab Intravitreal injections Neovascular aged-related macular degeneration |
| title | Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian Population |
| title_full | Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian Population |
| title_fullStr | Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian Population |
| title_short | Early Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Faricimab in Recalcitrant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Real-World Study in an East-Asian Population |
| title_sort | early anatomical and functional outcomes of faricimab in recalcitrant neovascular age related macular degeneration a retrospective real world study in an east asian population |
| topic | Anti-VEGF agents Ang/Tie pathway Asian Faricimab Intravitreal injections Neovascular aged-related macular degeneration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-025-01163-6 |
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