Clinical Ophthalmology (Dec 2022)
Intravitreal Faricimab for Aflibercept-Resistant Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Abstract
Ryan B Rush,1– 3 Sloan W Rush1,2 1Panhandle Eye Group, Amarillo, TX, USA; 2Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Amarillo, TX, USA; 3Southwest Retina Specialists, Amarillo, TX, USACorrespondence: Ryan B Rush, Southwest Retina Specialists, 7411 Wallace Blvd, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA, Tel +1 806 351-1870, Email [email protected]: To evaluate the short-term effects of intravitreal faricimab (IVF) in treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) subjects previously treated with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA).Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on nAMD patients undergoing IVA therapy at a single private practice institution. Subjects were divided into Study and Control groups. Both Study and Control subjects had undergone ≥ 6 IVA treatments during the previous 12 months, ≥ 4 IVA treatments during the previous 6 months, had a central macular thickness (CMT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) of ≥ 300 microns, and had observable intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid on OCT prior to group assignment. Study subjects were switched from IVA to IVF and received 3 treatments within 4 months. Control subjects remained on IVA during the same time period and received 3 treatments within 4 months.Results: There were a total of 55 subjects analyzed. There were 39.3% (11/28) in the Study Group and 7.4% (2/27) in the Control Group attaining a CMT of less than 300 microns without retinal fluid on OCT at the end of the 4-month study period (p = 0.004). There were 35.7% (10/28) in the Study Group and 7.4% (2/27) in the Control Group gaining 2 or more lines of visual acuity at the end of the 4-month study period (p = 0.008).Conclusion: IVF can improve the visual and anatomic outcomes in a significant minority of treatment-resistant nAMD subjects previously managed with IVA. A greater follow-up period is needed to determine if such improvements can be maintained.Keywords: faricimab, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, recalcitrance, treatment-resistant
