Vabysmo
Generic name:faricimab-svoa
Dosage form: intravitreal injection
Drug class:Anti-angiogenic ophthalmic agents
What is Vabysmo?
Vabysmo is a type of biological drug called a bispecific antibody. It is used to treat eye disease and is injected into the eyes.
Vabysmo helps to stop the growth of unstable blood vessels in your eyes. These abnormal blood vessels contribute to the development of certain eye diseases.
Vabysmo works by binding to both vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2). VEGF-A and Ang-2 are proteins that are overproduced in some people with eye disease.
Too much VEGF-A causes abnormal, leaky blood vessels to grow, causing damage to your macula. The macula is the part of your retina at the back of your eye and it is responsible for your central vision. Too much Ang-2 causes blood vessels to become unstable, causing them to leak, the area to become inflamed and new blood vessels to grow.
Vabysmo is the first bispecific antibody to be approved for treating eye disorders. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early 2022.
What is Vabysmo used for?
Vabysmo is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with neovascular (wet) age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Important information
- Injections like the one for Vabysmo can cause an eye infection (endophthalmitis) or separation of layers of the retina (retinal detachment). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:
- increasing eye pain
- vision loss
- sensitivity to light
- redness in the white of the eye
- Vabysmo may cause a temporary increase in pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure), which occurs 60 minutes after the injection.
- Although not common, Vabysmo patients have had serious, sometimes fatal, problems related to blood clots, such as heart attacks or strokes (thromboembolic events). In clinical studies for wet AMD during the first year, 7 out of 664 patients treated with Vabysmo reported such an event. In DME studies during the first year, 25 out of 1,262 patients treated with Vabysmo reported such an event.
Who should not receive Vabysmo?
Do not receive Vabysmo if you:
- have an infection in or around your eye.
- have active swelling around your eye that may include pain and redness.
- are allergic to Vabysmo or any of the ingredients in Vabysmo. See below for a complete list of ingredients in Vabysmo.
What should I tell my doctor before receiving Vabysmo?
Before receiving Vabysmo, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions.
How should I receive Vabysmo?
- Vabysmo is administered by a healthcare professional.
- Vabysmo is given by injection into your eye(s). A separate syringe will be used for each eye.
- Vabysmo will be injected slowly until the rubber stopper on the syringe reaches the end and a volume of 0.05..
