Faricimab is in clinical development for adults with diabetic macular oedema (DMO). DMO is a type of eye disease where blood vessels leak fluid into the retina. Vision loss occurs when the fluid reaches the macula (the centre of the retina that provides sharp vision) and builds up, causing swelling. Over time, DMO can cause central vision to become blurred, eventually these changes become permanent. Current treatments use steroid implants, or an injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), in the eye to stop the condition from worsening. Faricimab is a new antibody that targets two growth factors, VEGF-A and anti-angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), simultaneously. These growth factors promote the production of new blood vessels, which faricimab blocks. Growth of weaker, leaky blood vessels exacerbates DMO so halting this process would help reduce a patient’s chance of developing further eyesight complications. Faricimab is administered as an injection into the eye. Faricimab would be the first antibody to target both VEGF-A and Ang-2 and results so far indicate it would take longer to re-treatment, compared to a treatment that targets VEGF-A only.
Faricimab for diabetic macular oedema
