TOPLINE:
Faricimab demonstrated a greater reduction in hard exudates than aflibercept in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), according to research presented at EURETINA 2024. Hard exudates may be a useful biomarker of disease severity and treatment response, the researchers said.
METHODOLOGY:
- Investigators analyzed data from more than 1500 patients with DME who received faricimab or aflibercept during two phase 3 trials (YOSEMITE and RHINE).
- Participants were divided into groups receiving 6 mg of faricimab every 8 weeks, 6 mg of faricimab with a treat-and-extend approach to potentially reduce visits, or 2 mg of aflibercept every 8 weeks.
- Hard exudates were assessed using color fundus photography at baseline and at weeks 16, 52, and 96.
- Researchers also used an algorithm based on deep learning to assess the volume of hard exudates on optical coherence tomography.
TAKEAWAY:
- About 81% of participants in each treatment group had hard exudates at baseline.
- At week 52, 68% and 66% of patients who received faricimab had hard exudates, compared with 76% of those taking aflibercept.
- At week 96, 45% and 48% of patients taking faricimab had hard exudates, compared with 56% of those in the group receiving aflibercept.
- The volume and number of hard exudates decreased more in the faricimab arms of the study. At 100 weeks, the adjusted mean volume of hard exudate was 3.7 nL in the aflibercept group vs 2.2 nL and 1.9 nL with the two regimens of faricimab.
IN PRACTICE:
“These findings demonstrate the potential for improved disease control with dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition with faricimab for patients with DME,” the researchers reported.
SOURCE:
Christiana Dinah, MBBS, MRes, with London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust in the United Kingdom, presented the findings on September 20 at EURETINA 2024.
LIMITATIONS:
The study relied on post hoc analyses. P values were not adjusted for multiplicity and should not be used to make formal statistical conclusions, the investigators noted.
DISCLOSURES:
Roche funded the study. The company and its subsidiary Genentech market faricimab. Dinah disclosed consulting for Roche and other pharmaceutical companies. Some coauthors were employees of Roche or Genentech.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.