TOPLINE: 

Patients with neovascular age‑related macular degeneration (AMD) whose retinal fluid cleared within 12 weeks of starting faricimab were more likely to have longer intervals between injections later in treatment.

METHODOLOGY:

• The multicenter phase 3 TENAYA and LUCERNE randomized clinical trials compared faricimab with aflibercept in treatment-naive patients with neovascular AMD and found that faricimab maintained vision and structural improvements for 2 years, with nearly 80% of patients achieving dosing intervals of 12 weeks or longer.
• In a post hoc analysis of the faricimab arm of the trials, investigators examined whether rapid drying of retinal fluid within 12 weeks — marked by absence of fluid within and beneath the retina — predicted longer gaps between later injections.
• Patients received 6 mg of faricimab once a month for 4 months, followed by dosing every 8-16 weeks on the basis of disease activity, with dosing adjusted as needed through week 112.
• Investigators assessed how long patients went between injections at week 20 or 24 (first chance to extend) and at week 112.

TAKEAWAY:

• Of 552 patients with data on dosing at weeks 20 or 24, a total of 265 experienced rapid drying of retinal fluid through week 12; of 478 patients with data on dosing at week 112, a total of 223 experienced rapid drying.
• At week 20 or 24, patients with rapid drying of retinal fluid by week 12 were about twice as likely as those without rapid drying to receive faricimab injections every 16 weeks rather than every 8 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.99; P = .005). They were also more likely to receive injections every 12 weeks rather than every 8 weeks (aOR, 1.77; P = .02).
• By week 112, patients with rapid drying of retinal fluid were more likely to receive dosing every 16 weeks rather than every 8 weeks (aOR, 1.76; P = .02).
• Patients with rapid drying of retinal fluid had similar or slightly better clarity of vision at week 112 than those without rapid drying.

IN PRACTICE:

"Evidence from the current post hoc analysis suggests that this early impact of faricimab treatment on disease control may be an important determinant of later faricimab treatment durability," the researchers reported.

SOURCE:

The study was led by John D. Pitcher III, MD, of Eye Associates of New Mexico, in Albuquerque. It was published online on February 19 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

LIMITATIONS:

The researchers cautioned about the interpretation of the findings owing to the post hoc nature of the analysis.

DISCLOSURES:

The study received support from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Several other authors reported receiving personal fees, grants, employment, and having other financial ties with various pharmaceutical, eyecare, and healthcare organizations, including the funding agency. 

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.