February 12, 2026
2 min read
Key takeaways:
- After 12 months, 39.2% of eyes achieved a treatment interval of 12 weeks or longer.
- More than half of patients with retinal fluid at baseline achieved complete fluid resolution.
Patients with treatment-naive neovascular age-related macular degeneration have positive outcomes with faricimab at 1 year, with more than 39% of eyes achieving treatment intervals of 12 weeks or longer, according to a study.
“Faricimab, a bispecific antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor-A and angiopoietin-2, offers a novel approach to nAMD management,” Anne Tillman, of Augenarzt Praxisgemeinschaft Gutblick AG, Switzerland, and colleagues wrote in Ophthalmology and Therapy. “To date, a few small European studies have focused exclusively or at least included the subgroup of patients with treatment-naive nAMD, underscoring the urgent need for more comprehensive research.”
Data derived from Tillmann A, et al. Ophthalmol Ther. 2025; doi:10.1007/s40123-025-01252-6.
Tillmann and colleagues retrospectively analyzed data from 130 eyes of 118 patients with treatment-naive neovascular AMD who were treated with Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa, Genentech) between May 2022 and October 2024 across 11 specialized ophthalmic centers in Switzerland.
Patients were on a treat-and-extend protocol, with treatment intervals adjusted at the physician’s discretion. The primary outcomes were the changes in best corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness and treatment intervals across 12 months.
Average BCVA improved from 64.6 ± 14.1 ETDRS letters at baseline to 69.2 ± 20.3 ETDRS letters (P < .001) after 12 months of faricimab treatment. Average central retinal thickness decreased from 386.3 ± 172.3 µm to 246.6 ± 90.4 µm (P < .001).
Intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid was present in 130 eyes at baseline; 34.6% of these eyes achieved complete retinal fluid resolution after the first injection, while 55.6% achieved it after 12 months.
At the end of the study, the average treatment interval had been extended to 10.5 ± 4.3 weeks. Intervals between 8 and 11 weeks were reached in 26.2% of eyes, and 39.2% achieved intervals of 12 weeks or longer.
No serious adverse events were reported. There was one case of anterior uveitis, two retinal pigment epithelium tears and one case of minor macular bleeding.
“While fewer eyes achieved very extended injection intervals compared to pivotal randomized trials, the results affirm faricimab’s effectiveness and tolerability in routine clinical practice,” Tillmann and colleagues wrote. “These data support the clinical utility of faricimab as a first-line therapy for nAMD and highlight the need for further prospective, long-term studies to optimize treatment regimens and assess outcomes in broader, more diverse patient populations.”
Perspective
Anti-VEGF treatments have transformed outcomes for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), and this study offers potential for reduced dosing frequency with a dual pathway treatment. This study provided real-world clinical data compared with the pivotal trials. The results showed similar reduction in central retinal thickness but a lower percentage of patients with an extended treatment interval. This difference likely reflected individualized re-treatment and extension decisions from OCT and exam findings rather than a clinical trial protocol-driven dosing algorithm. Notably, early structural improvements did not reliably predict a long-term response.
For optometrists, who are often the first clinicians to detect nAMD and refer for treatment, this information is helpful for counseling patients about treatment burden and setting realistic expectations. Longer intervals between treatments while still improving visual outcomes reduce patient and clinic burden.
Limitations of this retrospective study include the small sample size and relatively short follow-up period of 1 year. The racial demographics and lesion types were unknown, so there was no data to illuminate treatment differences among a diverse population. A prospective, multicenter study could help clarify which patient groups benefit most.
Jonathan Chen, OD, FAAO, FSLS
Disclosures: Chen reports consulting for Barti.
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