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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Roche's Vabysmo shows strong 2-year results in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), a tough-to-treat subtype of wet AMD prevalent in Asian populations. In the phase 3b/4 SALWEEN study of 135 patients, participants gained an average of 7.3 letters in visual acuity and 74% had no retinal fluid by year two. The drug was well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with its use in wet AMD.
Roche's Vabysmo (faricimab) is proving its staying power in a notoriously difficult-to-treat eye condition. The phase 3b/4 SALWEEN study evaluated the drug in 135 patients aged 50 and older with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) — a subtype of neovascular AMD that disproportionately affects Asian populations — across nine countries in Asia.
Patients received four loading doses over 12 weeks, followed by flexible dosing every 8, 12, or 16 weeks. By weeks 100–108, the results were compelling: meaningful vision gains, significant reduction in retinal thickness, and high rates of lesion regression — all while the drug remained well tolerated with a safety profile consistent with its established use in wet AMD.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: PCV is a leading cause of vision loss in Asia and has historically been harder to manage than typical wet AMD. These 2-year data suggest Vabysmo can deliver durable, clinically meaningful outcomes — including extended dosing flexibility — for a patient population with limited options.
