One-year outcomes after switching to faricimab in eyes with pre-treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a Swiss Retina Research Network report.

DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
40139459
Abstract
Purpose
To report the efficacy and safety of switching to faricimab in a real-world, Swiss cohort of patients with pre-treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
Design
Retrospective, multicenter, longitudinal observational study conducted at 11 centers of the Swiss Retina Research Network.
Subjects
We included 353 eyes of 325 patients who were switched to intravitreal faricimab after prior anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy and followed for a minimum of 12 months between May 1, 2022 and October 30, 2024.
Methods
Demographic characteristics, baseline functional and optical coherence tomography findings, treatment history, and outcomes at 12 months post-switch to faricimab were extracted from the patients' electronic case report forms.
Main Outcome Measures
Change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), presence of retinal fluid (RF) and pigment epithelial detachment, treatment intervals and safety signals.
Results
Twelve months after switch, mean BCVA remained unchanged while mean CST decreased from 315.3 μm to 263.9 μm (p<0.01). Fast drying (absence of RF) after 1 faricimab injection was observed in 134 eyes (38%) and correlated positively with the treatment interval at 12 months (r(301)=0.24, p<0.01). After 12 months,169 (47.9%) eyes demonstrated absence of retinal fluid compared to 10.2% at switch. Mean treatment interval increased from 5.8 ± 2.5 weeks at switch to 8.3 ± 4.2 weeks at 12 months, whereas extended treatment intervals (≥12-week) were achieved in 20% of patients. Mild intraocular inflammation was reported in 1.7% of cases.
Conclusions
Switching to faricimab in pre-treated nAMD led to sustained anatomical improvements and stabilization of BCVA, with a substantial reduction in RF compared to baseline. Our results suggest the potential benefits of this switch strategy based on real-world data.
Date Issued
2025-09
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
Swiss Retina Research Network
•
age-related macular degeneration
•
antiVEGF
•
faricimab
•
optical coherence tomography
•
real-world
•
retina
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Grimaldi, Gabriela
Ambresin, Aude
Plasencia, Christina
Hatz, Katja
Stillenmunkes, Richard
Munk, Marion R
Paris, Arianna
Menghini, Moreno
Cattaneo, Jennifer
de Oliveira Figueiredo, Eva C
Eandi, Chiara M
Fröhlich, Jacqueline
Feltgen, Nicolas
Spitznagel, Tahm
Somfai, Gábor Márk
Cozzi, Mariano
Zweifel, Sandrine
Weinberger, Andreas
Additional Credits
Journal
Ophthalmology Retina
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
2468-6530
2468-7219
Access(Rights)
open.access
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