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BACKGROUND: Landmark studies reported on faricimab efficacy and safety predominantly in treatment naïve patients, but outcomes following switch from other anti-VEGF therapies are lacking. We evaluated patients switched to faricimab who had previously shown a partial response to other anti-VEGF injections for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular oedema (DMO). METHODS: Retrospective study at the Oxford Eye Hospital. Patients switched to faricimab from January to April 2023 with six months follow-up were identified via electronic medical records. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients (151 eyes) were included. In 88 patients with nAMD (107 eyes), mean visual acuity remained stable: 62±17 ETDRS letters at baseline; 62±18 at six months (p > 0.05). Central subfield thickness (CST) reduced from 294 ± 73 μm to 270 ± 53 μm (p 0.05). CST reduced from 355 ± 87 μm to 317 ± 82 μm (p < 0.05). Mean treatment interval increased by 1.4 weeks (p < 0.05) and was extended in 21 eyes (46%) by six months. CONCLUSIONS: Switching to faricimab in treatment resistant eyes led to improved anatomical response and extended treatment interval in a significant proportion of patients. Ongoing review of real-world data will inform longer-term outcomes of safety and effectiveness.
Borchert et al. (Fri,) studied this question.