CLINICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FARICIMAB-TREATED DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: A LINKED ANALYSIS OF ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS AND IRIS REGISTRY DATA
Author(s)
Nicole G. Bonine, PhD, MPH1, Stella Ko, MS, PharmD1, Xiaowu Sun, PhD2, Jessica Clubb, RPh, PharmD1, Ayesha Ahmed, PharmD1, Bryan Moore, MBA, PhD1, Laura Lupton, MD, MHSA2, Dingwei Dai, MD, PhD2, Yi Liu, PhD2, Yimin Wu, PhD2, Blake Cooper, MPH, MD3;
1Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA, 2CVS Health, Woonsocket, RI, USA, 3Retina Associates, LLC, Lenexa, KS, USA
1Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA, 2CVS Health, Woonsocket, RI, USA, 3Retina Associates, LLC, Lenexa, KS, USA
OBJECTIVES: Faricimab, the only bispecific antibody for intraocular use targeting both Ang-2 and VEGF-A, is a treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME). The study assesses the real-world clinical and economic outcomes of patients initiating treatment with faricimab.
METHODS: This retrospective study linked a DME cohort from a large national payer (administrative claims) with the American Academy of Ophthalmology IRIS® Registry (EHR data). Adults with ≥2 DME diagnoses, ≥1 faricimab injection (Index period: Feb 2022-June 2024) and 12 months continuous coverage pre- and post-index were included. Patients without subsequent Faricimab injections within 12 months or with unspecified laterality were excluded. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, HCRU, and cost data were extracted from claims, while clinical outcomes (Visual Acuity (VA) and injection frequency) were sourced from EHR data.
RESULTS: The cohort included 902 patients (1360 eyes) initiating faricimab for DME, primarily consisting of treatment-experienced individuals (95%). Mean baseline age was 71 (SD 8.8) years, 49% were female, and the mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 4.5 (SD 2.4). Mean baseline VA was similar (experienced: 63.1 letters; naïve: 63.6 letters). At follow-up, the naïve group achieved higher VA (69 vs. 65 letters, p=0.1073) and a greater proportion gained ≥15 ETDRS letters (naïve: 18% vs. experienced: 11%, p=0.2064). Baseline mean (SD) total cost of care ($38,967 [SD $38,026] vs. $37,550 [SD $43,859]) and DME-related costs excluding aVEGF ($1,121 [SD $1,908] vs. $744 [SD $1,255], p=0.1902) were higher in the treatment-experienced group, while diabetes-related costs were slightly higher in the treatment- naïve group ($11,603 [SD $18,106] vs. $10,730 [SD $11,902], p=0.6421); similar trends were observed at follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: This real-world analysis highlights trends in clinical and economic outcomes in Faricimab first-line for DME compared to initiation in treatment-experienced.
METHODS: This retrospective study linked a DME cohort from a large national payer (administrative claims) with the American Academy of Ophthalmology IRIS® Registry (EHR data). Adults with ≥2 DME diagnoses, ≥1 faricimab injection (Index period: Feb 2022-June 2024) and 12 months continuous coverage pre- and post-index were included. Patients without subsequent Faricimab injections within 12 months or with unspecified laterality were excluded. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, HCRU, and cost data were extracted from claims, while clinical outcomes (Visual Acuity (VA) and injection frequency) were sourced from EHR data.
RESULTS: The cohort included 902 patients (1360 eyes) initiating faricimab for DME, primarily consisting of treatment-experienced individuals (95%). Mean baseline age was 71 (SD 8.8) years, 49% were female, and the mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 4.5 (SD 2.4). Mean baseline VA was similar (experienced: 63.1 letters; naïve: 63.6 letters). At follow-up, the naïve group achieved higher VA (69 vs. 65 letters, p=0.1073) and a greater proportion gained ≥15 ETDRS letters (naïve: 18% vs. experienced: 11%, p=0.2064). Baseline mean (SD) total cost of care ($38,967 [SD $38,026] vs. $37,550 [SD $43,859]) and DME-related costs excluding aVEGF ($1,121 [SD $1,908] vs. $744 [SD $1,255], p=0.1902) were higher in the treatment-experienced group, while diabetes-related costs were slightly higher in the treatment- naïve group ($11,603 [SD $18,106] vs. $10,730 [SD $11,902], p=0.6421); similar trends were observed at follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: This real-world analysis highlights trends in clinical and economic outcomes in Faricimab first-line for DME compared to initiation in treatment-experienced.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE115
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)