one＋treat and extend regimen using faricimab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Purpose : Clinical trials of faricimab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), TENAYA and LUCERNE studies, employed four injections as the induction phase. However, the optimal treatment regimen is yet to be established. We investigated the effectiveness of one + treat and extend (TAE) regimen in patients with nAMD in a short term.

Methods : Patients with treatment naïve nAMD were recruited. After the first injection, treatment interval was adjusted by four weeks based on the presence of intraretinal/subretinal fluid and new hemorrhage. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and treatment intervals were evaluated at week 24 ± 4.

Results : Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study. Mean age was 78.2 ± 8.9 years, mean BCVA at baseline 0.51 ± 0.38 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and mean CRT 409.3 ± 173.7μm. While eleven patients required four monthly injections, thirteen patients succeeded in extending the treatment intervals during the first four injections. Mean period until the fourth injection was 16.2 ± 4.9 weeks. BCVA improved by 0.19 ± 0.08 logMAR and CRT 165.5 ± 26.8 compared to baseline. Six patients were treated at 16-week intervals, twelve patients 12-week, four patients 8-week, and two patients switched to another drug. There were no serious ocular or systemic adverse events.

Conclusions : One + TAE regimen using faricimab yielded visual and anatomic outcomes comparable to TENAYA and LUCERNE studies in a short term. The regimen is effective in avoiding overtreatment in good responders. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the effectiveness of the protocol.

This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.