What is Faricimab: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects and More

Faricimab is a newer medication designed to treat serious eye conditions that can threaten your vision. It's an injectable treatment that your eye doctor gives directly into your eye to help preserve and sometimes improve your sight when you have certain retinal diseases.

This medicine works differently from older treatments because it targets two specific pathways that cause vision problems. Think of it as a more comprehensive approach to protecting your eyesight when you're dealing with conditions like wet age-related macular degeneration or diabetic eye disease.

What is Faricimab?

Faricimab is a laboratory-made antibody that blocks two harmful proteins in your eye. These proteins, called VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2, work together to damage the delicate blood vessels in your retina, which is the light-sensing tissue at the back of your eye.

By blocking both of these proteins simultaneously, faricimab helps prevent abnormal blood vessel growth and reduces swelling in your macula. The macula is the central part of your retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision that you use for reading, driving, and recognizing faces.

This medication belongs to a class of drugs called bispecific antibodies, meaning it can target two different disease pathways at once. This dual approach may offer better results than treatments that only block one pathway.

What is Faricimab Used For?

Faricimab treats two main eye conditions that can cause severe vision loss if left untreated. Your doctor might recommend this treatment if you have wet age-related macular degeneration or diabetic macular edema.

Wet age-related macular degeneration happens when abnormal blood vessels grow under your retina and leak fluid or blood. This condition typically affects people over 50 and can cause rapid vision loss, making straight lines appear wavy or creating dark spots in your central vision.

Diabetic macular edema occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in your retina, causing them to leak fluid into the macula. This swelling can make your vision blurry or distorted, and it's one of the leading causes of vision loss in people with diabetes.

Both conditions share similar underlying problems with blood vessel damage and inflammation. Faricimab addresses these root causes rather than just treating the symptoms.

How Does Faricimab Work?

Faricimab is considered a strong and advanced medication that works by blocking two key proteins responsible for eye damage. Unlike older treatments that only target one pathway, this medicine takes a more comprehensive approach to protecting your vision.

The medication specifically blocks VEGF-A, which causes abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage. At the same time, it blocks angiopoietin-2, which makes blood vessels unstable and more likely to leak. When both pathways are blocked together, your eye has a better chance of healing and maintaining healthy blood vessels.

Once injected into your eye, faricimab gets to work immediately in the vitreous gel that fills your eye. The medicine gradually spreads throughout the retinal tissue, where it can effectively reach the damaged areas and provide protection for several months.

This dual-blocking approach may help you maintain better vision for longer periods between treatments compared to older medications. Many patients find they can go longer between injections while still protecting their eyesight.

How Should I Take Faricimab?

Faricimab is given as an injection directly into your eye by your eye doctor in their office or clinic. You cannot take this medication at home, and it must always be administered by a trained healthcare professional using sterile techniques.

Before your injection, your doctor will numb your eye with special drops to minimize discomfort. They'll also clean the area around your eye thoroughly to prevent infection. The actual injection takes only a few seconds, though the entire appointment may last 30 minutes to an hour.

You don't need to avoid eating or drinking before your appointment, and there are no specific dietary restrictions. However, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after the injection, as your vision may be temporarily blurry or your eye may feel uncomfortable.

After the injection, your doctor will monitor you briefly to make sure you're comfortable and don't have any immediate reactions. They'll give you specific instructions about eye care and what to watch for in the following days.

How Long Should I Take Faricimab For?

Most people need faricimab injections on an ongoing basis to maintain their vision improvements. This isn't a cure for your eye condition, but rather a long-term treatment that helps manage the disease and prevent further vision loss.

Initially, you'll typically receive injections every 4 weeks for the first few months. Your doctor will closely monitor how well you respond to treatment during this time. If your eyes respond well, you may be able to extend the time between injections to every 8, 12, or even 16 weeks.

The goal is to find the longest interval between injections that still keeps your vision stable and healthy. Some people can maintain good results with injections every 4 months, while others may need them more frequently. Your individual response will determine your treatment schedule.

Regular eye exams and vision tests help your doctor decide when you need your next injection. Never stop treatment without discussing it with your eye doctor, as your vision could deteriorate quickly without ongoing protection.

What Are the Side Effects of Faricimab?

Like all medications, faricimab can cause side effects, though many people tolerate it well. Most side effects are mild and temporary, affecting only the treated eye rather than your whole body.

The most common side effects you might experience include temporary discomfort or irritation in your eye after the injection. Here are the side effects that patients most frequently report:

• Mild eye pain or discomfort for a day or two
• Temporary blurry vision or seeing floaters
• Feeling like something is in your eye
• Slight redness or swelling around the injection site
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Watery or dry eyes

These common side effects typically resolve within a few days and don't usually require treatment. However, you should contact your doctor if they persist or worsen.

More serious side effects are rare but require immediate medical attention. These include signs of infection, severe pain, sudden vision changes, or seeing flashing lights. Here are the warning signs that mean you should call your doctor right away:

• Severe eye pain that doesn't improve with over-the-counter pain relievers
• Sudden decrease in vision or new blind spots
• Seeing flashing lights or a curtain-like shadow in your vision
• Thick discharge or pus from your eye
• Fever along with eye symptoms
• Severe headache with eye pain

Very rarely, some patients may experience retinal detachment, where the retina pulls away from the back of the eye, or endophthalmitis, a serious eye infection. These complications occur in less than 1 in 1,000 patients but require emergency treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.

Who Should Not Take Faricimab?

Faricimab isn't suitable for everyone, and your doctor will carefully evaluate whether it's the right treatment for your specific situation. Certain medical conditions or circumstances may make this medication inappropriate or potentially harmful.

You should not receive faricimab if you have an active infection in or around your eye. Any type of eye infection must be completely treated and resolved before you can safely receive an injection. This includes conditions like conjunctivitis, styes, or more serious infections.

People with certain allergies may also need to avoid this medication. If you've had severe reactions to faricimab in the past or are allergic to any of its components, your doctor will recommend alternative treatments.

Your doctor will also consider these factors when deciding if faricimab is right for you:

• Recent eye surgery or injury
• Severe inflammation inside your eye
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Recent stroke or heart attack
• Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant
• Breastfeeding

Special consideration is needed if you have a history of blood clots, stroke, or heart problems, as medications that block VEGF may slightly increase the risk of these complications. Your doctor will weigh the benefits against the risks for your individual situation.

Faricimab Brand Names

Faricimab is sold under the brand name Vabysmo in the United States and many other countries. This is currently the only brand name available for this medication, as it's still protected by patents.

When you receive your injection, the vial or packaging will clearly show "Vabysmo" along with the generic name "faricimab-svoa." The "svoa" part is a suffix that helps distinguish this specific version of the medication from potential future versions.

Your insurance coverage and treatment records will typically reference both the brand name Vabysmo and the generic name faricimab. This helps ensure clear communication between your various healthcare providers and your insurance company.

Faricimab Alternatives

Several other medications can treat the same eye conditions as faricimab, though they work slightly differently. Your doctor might consider these alternatives if faricimab isn't suitable for you or if you don't respond well to treatment.

The most commonly used alternatives include ranibizumab (Lucentis), aflibercept (Eylea), and bevacizumab (Avastin). These medications have been available longer and have extensive safety data, though they typically only block the VEGF pathway rather than both VEGF and angiopoietin-2.

Here are the main alternative treatments your doctor might discuss:

• Ranibizumab (Lucentis) - Usually given monthly or every other month
• Aflibercept (Eylea) - Often given every 6-8 weeks after initial loading doses
• Bevacizumab (Avastin) - Given monthly, often less expensive option
• Brolucizumab (Beovu) - Another newer option with extended dosing intervals

The choice between these medications depends on factors like your specific eye condition, how well you respond to treatment, your insurance coverage, and your ability to attend frequent appointments. Some people may need to try different medications to find what works best for their situation.

Is Faricimab Better Than Aflibercept?

Faricimab and aflibercept (Eylea) are both effective treatments, but they work in different ways. Faricimab blocks two pathways while aflibercept primarily blocks one, which may give faricimab some advantages in certain situations.

Clinical studies suggest that faricimab may allow longer intervals between injections for many patients. While aflibercept typically requires injections every 6-8 weeks, some people can extend faricimab treatments to every 12-16 weeks while maintaining the same level of vision protection.

The vision outcomes between these two medications appear to be quite similar in most patients. Both can effectively stabilize vision and reduce fluid in the macula. The main advantage of faricimab may be the convenience of fewer injections for some people.

However, aflibercept has been available longer and has more extensive long-term safety data. Some doctors and patients prefer the established track record of aflibercept, especially for people who are already doing well on this treatment.

Your doctor will help you decide which medication is better for your specific situation based on your eye condition, treatment history, and personal preferences about injection frequency.