Does switching to faricimab in those poorly responded to Patients with diabetic macular edema (DMO) who responded poorly to aflibercept has benefits in diabetic macular edema? A new study finds it beneficial.

Patients with diabetic macular edema (DMO) who responded poorly to aflibercept 2mg achieved meaningful anatomical improvements and longer treatment intervals after switching to faricimab, according to a new retrospective single-center study in Clinical Ophthalmology.

The study analyzed outcomes from 62 eyes of 50 patients who met the criteria for suboptimal response to aflibercept. Participants, with a mean age of 63.9 years, received at least six prior aflibercept injections before switching to faricimab. Treatment included four loading doses followed by a treat-and-extend regimen, with outcomes tracked for around 12 months.

At baseline, patients had a mean best-recorded visual acuity (BRVA) of 67.6 letters and a CST of 406.4μm. After switching to faricimab, BRVA improved to 70.4 letters post-loading (p=0.008) and remained stable at 68.7 letters at final follow-up. CST decreased significantly to 372.8μm post-loading (p=0.002) and further to 343.1μm at the latest review (p=0.020).

Treatment durability also improved. The average injection interval lengthened from 6.5 weeks at baseline to 9.2 weeks at 12 months (p<0.001), with more than half of patients extending to at least 8-weekly dosing. Across the study, patients received an average of 7.9 faricimab injections, with no new safety concerns reported.