Vabysmo (faricimab) and Eylea (afibercept) are two eye injections used in the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
The injections are administered by intravitreal injection (into the gel-like part of the eye) by your retina eye specialist (a trained ophthalmologist). Your doctor will use a medicine to numb your eye before the injection. You will receive this injection in your doctor's office or a specialty clinic.
Vabysmo is a bispecific antibody that targets both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), whereas Eylea is a recombinant fusion protein that targets VEGF and placental growth factor (PlGF).
Vabysmo, approved by the FDA in 2022, is approved for two indications, while Eylea, first approved in 2011, is cleared for five specific uses (see table below).
Clinical studies have shown that Vabysmo and Eylea have similar safety profiles and that Vabysmo is non-inferior to Eylea, which means that the clinical benefits it provides are not worse than those provided by Eylea.
Vabysmo may be given up to every 16 weeks in certain patients depending on how well they are responding to treatment. Eylea is usually given every 4 to 8 weeks, but may be given up to every 12 weeks after 1 year of treatment in certain patients.
Key facts - Vabysmo vs Eylea
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Vabysmo |
Eylea |
|
Generic name |
Faricimab-svoa |
Aflibercept |
|
Company |
Genentech |
Regeneron |
|
FDA approval date |
2022 |
2011 |
|
Drug type / class |
Bispecific antibody |
Recombinant fusion protein |
|
Dosage form |
Intravitreal injection (in the gel-like part of the eye) |
Intravitreal injection |
|
Mechanism of action |
VEGF and angiopoietin-2 inhibitor |
Inhibits VEGF / placental growth factor (PlGF) |
|
Indications / usage |
- Neovascular (wet) AMD
- Diabetic macular edema (DME)
|
- Neovascular (wet) AMD
- DME
- Macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
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Dosing schedule and administration |
- Neovascular (wet) AMD - start with injections once every 4 weeks for the first 4 doses and then following tests 8 and 12 weeks later move to injections at:
- Weeks 28 and 44
OR
- Weeks 24, 36 and 48
OR
- Weeks 20, 28, 36 and 44
OR
- Continue with every 4 weeks
- DME
- Inject every 4 weeks for at least 4 doses then based on test results the dosing intervals may be extended by up to 4 weeks or reduced by up to 8 weeks through to 52 weeks.
OR
- Inject every 4 weeks for the first 6 doses then every 8 weeks over the following 28 weeks.
OR
- Inject every 4 weeks for the first for doses and then continue with dosing every 4 weeks.
|
- Neovascular (wet) AMD - inject every 4 weeks for the first 3 months and then:
- Every 8 weeks
OR
- Continue with every 4 weeks
- After 1 year of effective therapy, some patients may move to every 12 weeks
- DME - inject every 4 weeks for the first 5 injections and then every 8 weeks. Some patients may need dosing every 4 weeks after the first 20 weeks.
- Macular edema following retinal vein occlusion - inject once every 4 weeks.
- Diabetic retinopathy - inject every 4 weeks for the first 5 injections and then every 8 weeks. Some patients may need dosing every 4 weeks after the first 20 weeks.
- ROP - 0.4 mg administered by intravitreal injection. Treatment may be given in both eyes on the same day. The treatment interval between doses injected into the same eye should be at least 10 days.
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Side effects / adverse effects |
The most common adverse reaction (≥ 5%) reported in patients was cataract (15%) and conjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding) (8%). |
The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) reported in patients were:
- conjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding)
- eye pain
- cataract
- vitreous detachment
- vitreous floaters
- intraocular pressure increased
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Warnings and precautions |
- Endophthalmitis and retinal detachments may occur following intravitreal injections. Any symptoms of endophthalmitis or retinal detachments should be reported promptly
- Increases in intraocular pressure have been seen within 60 minutes of an intravitreal injection.
- There is a potential risk of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) associated with VEGF inhibition.
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- Endophthalmitis and retinal detachments may occur following intravitreal injections. Any symptoms of endophthalmitis or retinal detachments should be reported promptly
- Increases in intraocular pressure have been seen within 60 minutes of an intravitreal injection.
- There is a potential risk of ATEs associated with VEGF inhibition.
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This is not all the information you need to know about Vabysmo or Eylea for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
