(A-042) Faricimab Usage in Neovascular Retinal Diseases: Real-World Data on Patient Demographics, Comorbidities, and Treatment Patterns

Background: Faricimab, a novel bispecific monoclonal antibody targeting both VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2, offers a new option for retinal diseases like age-related macular degemeration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Faricimab’s dual action may help stabilize vessels and reduce inflammation, potentially allowing longer intervals between treatments.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with AMD,DME, PCV, and RVO, including their comorbidity profiles and current treatment patterns.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study of patients with neovascular retinal diseases (AMD, DME, PCV, RVO). Data were collected from multiple ophthalmology practices from TriNetX network between January 1, 2024, and November 21, 2024. Adults (≥20 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of any of the four retinal conditions were included if they had complete clinical records and at least one year of follow-up. Exposures or Interventions: Information was gathered on the use of anti-VEGF therapies (aflibercept, ranibizumab, Faricimab) and relevant systemic medications (e.g., antihyperglycemics, antihypertensives). Primary outcomes included the prevalence of systemic comorbidities and medication use within each disease group. Secondary outcomes involved describing patient demographics (age, sex, race) and the distribution of anti-VEGF treatments. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means) were employed for baseline characteristics and comorbidity data. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square tests, and ANOVA was used for continuous variables. No formal hypothesis testing was performed.

Results: A total of 5,322 eyes from 4,139 participants were analyzed: 2,826 with AMD, 923 with DME, 850 with PCV, and 723 with RVO. Male patients ranged from 36.35% (PCV) to 53.30% (DME). AMD patients were largely White (86.02%), whereas the DME group included 15.82% Black or African American. Diabetes mellitus was highest in DME (97.29%), though RVO (50.35%) and AMD (23.85%) also had notable rates. Hypertension was common, particularly in DME (65.55%). Across all groups, Aflibercept was the predominant anti-VEGF therapy (63.98%–69.41%). Ranibizumab was less frequent, especially outside PCV (9.18%).

Conclusions: Faricimab, targeting both VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2, offers a promising alternative that may reduce treatment burden and enhance vascular stability. As real-world data grow, Faricimab could play an increasingly important role for patients with AMD, DME, PCV, and RVO, especially those with complex comorbidities.