Vabysmo

Vabysmo is the brand name for faricimab, a humanized bispecific monoclonal antibody developed by Genentech. It targets two pathways involved in retinal vascular diseases: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2).

Vabysmo is indicated for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) in adults. It is administered by intravitreal injection, typically in a clinic setting.

The drug’s mechanism combines inhibition of VEGF-A, which reduces abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage, with inhibition of ANG-2, which is thought to stabilize blood vessels and lessen inflammation. This dual targeting aims to address both edema and vascular instability that contribute to vision loss in nAMD and DME.

Dosing and administration follow an intravitreal injection schedule. Treatment generally begins with a loading phase of monthly injections, after which intervals between doses may be extended to every 8 weeks or longer, depending on disease activity and physician assessment.

In pivotal phase 3 trials for nAMD (TENAYA and LUCERNE) and for DME (RISE and RIDE), faricimab demonstrated vision outcomes comparable to standard anti-VEGF therapy, with the potential for longer dosing intervals in patients with stable disease, potentially reducing treatment burden.

Safety discussions emphasize that the ocular adverse events typical of intravitreal therapies can occur, including conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain, and transient increases in intraocular pressure. Rare but serious risks include endophthalmitis and retinal detachment; systemic adverse events have been monitored without new safety signals.

Regulatory status: Vabysmo has received approvals in the United States and other regions for its indicated uses, with ongoing studies evaluating additional retinal diseases and longer-term outcomes.