Medical update – 3 jabs a year, a possible new treatment?

A new drug for macular degeneration could reduce injections from monthly to only 3 times a year.

Faricimab has recently been approved in the UK for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. A recent phase-3 clinical trial, published in Feb 2022 in the Lancet Medical Journal showed that Faricimab lasted twice as long as other macular degeneration medications, meaning injections may only be required 3 times a year.

Cathy Yelf, chief executive of the Macular Society UK notes that for many people who have eye injections, going to monthly eye clinic appointments is arduous, often requiring help from family members or friends to get there. People sometimes need a day of rest after their treatment too.

The beauty of this potential new treatment is that patients who currently make monthly or 2 monthly trips to the eye clinic, may only need to make 3 visits a year!

Treatments that require less interventions make it easier for patients to stick with their treatments over time, meaning better vision outcomes in the long term. Less treatments per patient may also free up eye clinics to treat more patients, an important factor to consider as our society ages and macular degeneration becomes more prevalent.

Clinical trials with Faricimab are currently underway in Australia. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Medsafe has recommended that Faricimab be added to the prescription schedule. This is the first step in the approval process, which does take time. Faricimab still needs to go through several stages before Medsafe approves it for use in NZ.

We will report on progress as we hear more.

Source: NZ Optics & Macular Society UK