Visual and Anatomic Responses in Patients With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and a Suboptimal Response to Anti-VEGF Therapy Switched to Faricimab
Ali Khodor, Stephanie Choi, Tavish Nanda, Jonathan T. Caranfa, Raul E. Ruiz‐Lozano, Shilpa Desai, Michelle C. Liang, Caroline R. Baumal, David C. Reed, Tina S. Cleary, Jeffrey S. Heier, Chirag P. Shah, André J. Witkin
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the efficacy of switching to intravitreal (IVT) faricimab in patients with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and determine the rates of reversion to the original antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with nAMD and persistent fluid on optical coherence tomography previously treated with anti-VEGF injections who received at least 1 IVT faricimab injection between March 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023. Results: The study comprised 135 eyes of 119 patients. Before switching to IVT faricimab, the mean number of anti-VEGF injections in the previous 12 months was 10.7 ± 2.6 (SD) with a mean interval of 4.8 ± 1.3 weeks (range, 2-8). The mean follow-up was 11.6 ± 2 months. Thirty eyes (22.2%) switched to IVT faricimab returned to the original therapy. Of the 105 eyes remaining on IVT faricimab, 66 (62.9%) had no fluid at the last follow-up. Compared with the original treatment, there was a significant improvement in logMAR visual acuity at the last follow-up in eyes on IVT faricimab (0.42 vs 0.38; P < .01) and in central subfield thickness (286 µm vs 246 µm; P < .0001). There was also a significant increase in the dosing interval after the third injection vs before IVT faricimab was prescribed (4.8 weeks vs 5.5 weeks; P < .001). Conclusions: Faricimab has a potent drying effect and potential for increasing the injection interval in many eyes with nAMD and persistent fluid on other anti-VEGF agents. Although nearly 25% of eyes reverted to the original therapy because of an insufficient response or adverse events, the majority did not achieve fluid resolution after reversion.