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Roche Pharma India marked its foray into the ophthalmology space by launching Vabysmo (faricimab) for the treatment of neovascular or “wet” age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Neovascular AMD and DME are two leading causes of vision loss worldwide.
Vabysmo is the first and only dual-pathway-inhibitor that uniquely targets and inhibits two disease pathways linked to a number of vision threatening retinal conditions. It neutralises both angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) which are key proteins involved in the development and progression of retinal conditions, contributing to vision loss by destabilising blood vessels in the eye.
As the world’s first bispecific monoclonal antibody, Vabysmo is a single molecule designed to target and inhibit the effects of two targets, providing the benefits of two medicines in one. Current treatment options target VEGF alone, and therefore only partially address the biology of the disease. By blocking both pathways involving Ang-2 and VEGF-A, Vabysmo offers people the first new MoA (mechanism of action) in more than 15 years for nAMD and close to a decade for DME, stabilising blood vessels in the retina and improving vision outcomes.
Vabysmo has the potential to transform the existing Standard of Care (SoC) as the burden associated with currently available treatment options for nAMD and DME such as frequent eye injections (typically required every one to two months) and physician visits can lead to under treatment and less-than-optimal vision outcomes. Vabysmo offers better treatment durability with patients requiring eye injections at intervals of up to once in four months, while achieving similar vision gains and anatomical improvements.
Commenting on the launch, V Simpson Emmanuel, CEO and managing director, Roche Pharma India, said, "We believe more should be done to meet the needs of people living with retinal conditions and to preserve sight. While there is strong awareness and action for cataract and other frontal eye-disorders, retinal conditions are often diagnosed late or neglected, leading to vision loss. The launch of Vabysmo marks our entry into the ophthalmology space in India, underscoring our commitment to bring the best-in-class innovations to the country. With fewer eye injections over time, while also improving and maintaining vision and anatomy, Vabysmo offers a more convenient and effective treatment schedule for patients, their caregivers and healthcare systems.”
“nAMD and DME can limit a person’s ability to read, drive and recognise faces. Even simple everyday activities may become challenging as the disease progresses. Vabysmo offers the ‘Latest’ (world’s first dual pathway inhibition), ‘Fastest’ (fastest drying & effective disease control) and ‘Longest’ (extended durability up to 4 months) treatment option to patients,” said Dr. Viraj Suvarna, chief medical officer at Roche Pharma India.
Dr. Daraius Shroff, medical director - Shroff Eye Centre, said, “A silent epidemic of retinal diseases is gaining pace in India. This requires immediate focus to safeguard vision. India's growing diabetic population, exceeding 100 million, gives rise to a significant threat of diabetic retinopathy and DME. With an ever increasing older population, focus on Age-related macular degeneration becomes important. The wet form of AMD can cause devastating central vision loss. Fortunately, timely diagnosis and treatment with specialized injections can preserve sight. As eye specialists, embracing innovative solutions like Vabysmo enables us to navigate the complexities of retinal diseases with greater efficacy and compassion.”
Preventable and treatable vision loss is a growing global public health concern. A staggering one billion people live with vision impairment worldwide that could have been prevented. Retinal conditions are now affecting more people than ever before. More than 300 million patients globally and 11 million patients in India suffer from retinal vision loss. India is home to one-third of the blind population of the world 7. Furthermore, in India, the prevalence of nAMD and DME stands at approximately 4 million.
Vabysmo (faricimab) was first approved by the US FDA in January 2022. It is today available in across 90+ countries and more than 2 million doses have been administered till date 11.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision needed for activities like reading. Neovascular or “wet” AMD (nAMD) is an advanced form of the disease that can cause rapid and severe vision loss if left untreated. It develops when new and abnormal blood vessels grow uncontrolled under the macula, causing swelling, bleeding and/or fibrosis. Worldwide, around 20 million people 10 are living with nAMD – the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60 and the condition will affect even more people around the world as the global population ages.
Affecting around 21 million people globally, diabetic macular edema (DME) is a vision threatening retinal condition associated with blindness and decreased quality of life when left untreated. DME occurs when damaged blood vessels in the retina leak into and cause swelling in the macula – the central area of the retina responsible for the sharp vision needed for reading and driving. The number of people with DME is expected to grow as the prevalence of diabetes increases. There remains a significant unmet need for more effective, longer-lasting therapies for people with DME.
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