New AMD and Macular Edema Drug Improves Outcomes, Cuts Doctor Visits
A promising new drug therapy for patients with either neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 28, giving new hope to millions of Americans.Vabysmo, previously known as faricimab-svoa, is the first single injectable therapy to target both eye conditions simultaneously. It’s also the first to approach the diseases by harnessing two treatment pathways.In nAMD and DME, fragile vessels can leak fluid into the macula, the central portion of the retina that delivers the sharpest straight-ahead vision.Vabysmo effectively neutralizes two proteins — vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) — that, through separate mechanisms, lead to unstable blood vessels, inflammation, and fluid leakage into the macula.Since patients on Vabysmo need relatively few injections over long periods…
