Ann Pharmacol Pharm | Volume 8, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Liu L1,2,3, Li G1,2,3* and Chuan J2,3*
1Traffic Hospital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China 2Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China 3School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China
Fulltext PDFIntroduction: Faricimab is a novel bispecific antibody that simultaneously blocks Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2), resulting in therapeutic effects in neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). However, the efficacy and safety of faricimab are not yet clear through the results of some single clinical trials. In this study, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of faricimab was conducted to assess its efficacy and safety. Methods: RCTs of faricimab were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Clinic trail. gov., up to April 1st, 2022. Change in Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), Central Sub-Field Thickness (CSFT), change in total area of Macular Neovascularization (MNV) about nAMD, and absence of Subretinal Fluid (SRF) in DME, two-step Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study- Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (ETDRS-DRSS) improvement in DME, incidence of serious adverse events, ocular adverse events and serious ocular adverse events are extracted from RCTs. Data analysis was performed using Revman 5.4.1. Results: Seven RCTs with 3,798 patients were finally included in this meta-analysis, four of which were related to nAMD and three to DME. Statistical results of faricimab treatment of nAMD, including change in BCVA, CSFT, and change in total area of MCV, confirmed that there was no statistical significance between faricimab groups and control groups (aflibercept, ranibizumab). Similarly, there was no significant difference in the safety indicators of faricimab in nAMD including adverse events, serious adverse events, ocular adverse events and serious ocular adverse events. For the pooled analysis of faricimab treatment in DME disease, changes in BCVA, CSFT absence of SRF, and two-step ETDRS-DRSS improvement were consistent with Aflibercept and Ranibizumab. And compared with control groups, the incidence of adverse events, serious adverse events, ocular adverse events were not statistically changed. However, faricimab induced higher CSFT reduction for DME compared with control agents (MD-26.34, 95% CI -36.47 to -16.22, P<0.00001). Meanwhile, faricimab caused more occurrence of serious ocular adverse events in DME than ranibizumab and aflibercept (MD 2.12, 95% CI 1.02 to 4.43, P=0.04). Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of faricimab for the treatment of nAMD is similar to that of other anti-VEGF agents. Faricimab may cause more serious ocular adverse events in the treatment of DME, which needs to be focused on by ophthalmologists.
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration; Faricimab; Efficacy; Safety; Metaanalysis
Liu L, Li G, Chuan J. The Efficacy and Safety of Faricimab for the Treatment of nAMD and DME: A Meta-Analysis. Ann Pharmacol Pharm. 2023; 8(1): 1210..