Roche shared new results from clinical trials at the 25th Euretina Congress in Paris today, showing that its eye drug Vabysmo (faricimab) helped patients with neovascular or "wet" age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) keep their vision and continue treatment for four years, and also improved results for patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), a serious eye condition.

According to Roche, the AVONELLE-X study showed that more than 80% of patients with nAMD could stretch their treatment to every three or four months after using Vabysmo for a long time while still keeping their vision stable. In a separate experiment, the SALWEEN research, patients with PCV improved an average of nearly nine letters on an eye chart after one year of therapy.

"These findings, combined with the long-term AVONELLE-X results in nAMD, support our mission to develop and deliver impactful medicines for people with difficult-to-treat eye diseases," said Dr Levi Garraway, Roche's Chief Medical Officer. 

The AVONELLE-X trial tracked almost 1,000 patients with nAMD, a disease in which aberrant blood vessels form behind the macula (the central region of the retina), resulting in swelling and visual loss. Roche claimed that the anatomical benefits found in previous trials were maintained across four years of therapy. 

In Asia, the SALWEEN trial enrolled 135 patients from nine countries, including India, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. PCV, a form of nAMD distinguished by aberrant, polyp-like blood vessels, accounts for up to 60% of all nAMD cases in Asian populations. According to Roche, more than 60% of these lesions were totally cured after a year of treatment. 

Dr Takeshi Iwata, a Tokyo-based retinal specialist who was not involved in the study, stated that the findings could lead to lengthier treatment intervals for patients. "Patients and their families bear the hardship of frequent injections. Extending the period between visits while maintaining efficacy would be a significant step forward, he said. 

A World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesperson speaking in Geneva acknowledged that age-related macular degeneration is the major cause of visual loss in adults over the age of 60 worldwide. "Any treatment option that improves access, reduces frequency of hospital visits, and maintains safety is significant for ageing populations," stated a government official. 

There are around 20 million people worldwide who have nAMD. If not treated, the illness progresses and can cause serious central vision loss. PCV, which is more frequent in Asian and African people, causes similar harm but requires specific identification and treatment. 

Vabysmo works by targeting the proteins (VEGF-A and Ang-2) that cause aberrant blood vessel development and leakage in the retina. Simply put, the therapy helps stabilise "leaky pipes" in the eyes, which can impair vision. 

At the Euretina Congress, researchers showed precise retinal images comparing patient scans before and after therapy. Delegates went steadily between sessions, with many capturing pictures of the poster presentations. 

Roche stated that it intends to continue monitoring patients in longer-term studies and would collaborate with health authorities worldwide to increase access. "There is more science yet to do, but the data reinforce Vabysmo's role in addressing both nAMD and PCV," Garraway said.