Intravitreal injection of faricimab to treat macular and retinovascular diseases in Nigerians: Early real-world experience.

INTRODUCTION

Faricimab is a novel bispecific antibody for treating retinovascular diseases. Nigerians were not included in the pivotal approval studies; therefore, its performance in Nigerians is unknown.

PURPOSE: To report indications, outcomes and safety of intravitreal faricimab (IVF) in Nigerians.

STUDY

SETTING

Single tertiary care ophthalmology hospital.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Retrospective review of eyes documented to have received at least one IVF injection from January to August 2024, with no exclusions. Information retrieved from case records includes patient demographics, indication, previous intravitreal injections, number of IVF injections, visual outcome and central subfield thickness (CST), before and after IVF injection.

RESULTS

A total of 77 IVF injections were administered to 39 eyes of 31 patients; mean age 65.69 years (±10), ranging from 48 to 80 years. Fifteen were male (17 eyes), and 16 were female (22 eyes). The most common indications for treatment were neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in 13 eyes (33%) and diabetic macular edema (DME) in 10 eyes (25.6%). For all eyes, visual acuity improved from a baseline LogMAR score of 0.90 (±0.57) to 0.88 (±0.64) after the first injection, and 0.74 (±0.61) after the final injection. Central subfield thickness (CST) decreased from 403.80 microns (±208.61) to 303 microns (±191.07). In treatment-naïve eyes (n=19), vision improved from a LogMAR score of 0.87 (±0.55) to 0.66 (±0.45) after the final injection (P=0.006), and CST decreased from 433.94 microns (±258.58) to 310.45 microns (±206.48) (P=0.010). In previously treated (switch) eyes (n=20), visual acuity improved from 0.91 (±0.60) to 0.81 (±0.74) (P=0.019), and CST decreased from 376 microns (±153.48) to 297.53 microns (±186.19) (P=0.004). There were no adverse reactions reported following the injections.

CONCLUSION

IVF was safe and effective for treating nAMD, DME and other retinovascular diseases in Nigerians in this pilot study. Outcomes of large sample size studies are expected.