Faricimab for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion

Faricimab is recommended, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after central or branch retinal vein occlusion in adults. It is only recommended if the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement .

If people with the condition and their healthcare professional consider faricimab to be 1 of a range of suitable treatments, after discussing the advantages and disadvantages of all the options, the least expensive should be used. Administration costs, dosages, price per dose and commercial arrangements should all be taken into account. Why these recommendations were made Visual impairment caused by macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion is usually treated with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‑VEGF) treatment (aflibercept or ranibizumab). Faricimab is another treatment option that works in a similar way and would be offered to the same population. Using NICE's cost comparison methods , if a treatment has similar benefits and costs to a comparator recommended in technology appraisal guidance it can be recommended as a treatment option. Evidence from clinical trials shows that faricimab is likely to work as well as aflibercept for people who have not had an anti‑VEGF treatment. There is limited evidence for how well faricimab works for people who have had an anti‑VEGF treatment. But clinical experts agreed that faricimab is likely to work as well as aflibercept for people who have had an anti‑VEGF treatment. A cost comparison suggests faricimab has similar costs and overall health benefits to aflibercept. In addition, a majority of people currently have aflibercept for this condition, particularly people starting treatment. So faricimab is recommended as an additional treatment option. There are no equality issues relevant to the recommendations. For all evidence see the committee papers . For more information on NICE's evaluation of aflibercept, see the consideration of the evidence section in NICE's technology appraisal guidance on aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion , and the committee discussion section in aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after branch retinal vein occlusion .

Faricimab (Vabysmo, Roche) is indicated for 'the treatment of adult patients with visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO)'.

The dosage schedule is available in the summary of product characteristics for faricimab .

The list price of faricimab is £857 for 1 vial of 120 mg per 1 ml solution for injection (excluding VAT; BNF online accessed May 2024)

The company has a commercial arrangement . This makes faricimab available to the NHS with a discount. The size of the discount is commercial in confidence.

Section 7 of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013 requires integrated care boards, NHS England and, with respect to their public health functions, local authorities to comply with the recommendations in this evaluation within 3 months of its date of publication. Because faricimab has been recommended through the cost-comparison process , NHS England and integrated care boards have agreed to provide funding to implement this guidance 30 days after publication.

The Welsh ministers have issued directions to the NHS in Wales on implementing NICE technology appraisal guidance. When a NICE technology appraisal guidance recommends the use of a drug or treatment, or other technology, the NHS in Wales must usually provide funding and resources for it within 2 months of the first publication of the final draft guidance.

When NICE recommends a treatment 'as an option', the NHS must make sure it is available within the period set out in the paragraphs above. This means that, if a patient has visual impairment caused by macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion and the healthcare professional responsible for their care thinks that faricimab is the right treatment, it should be available for use, in line with NICE's recommendations.

Faricimab is recommended, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after central or branch retinal vein occlusion in adults. It is only recommended if the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement .

If people with the condition and their healthcare professional consider faricimab to be 1 of a range of suitable treatments, after discussing the advantages and disadvantages of all the options, the least expensive should be used. Administration costs, dosages, price per dose and commercial arrangements should all be taken into account. Why these recommendations were made Visual impairment caused by macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion is usually treated with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‑VEGF) treatment (aflibercept or ranibizumab). Faricimab is another treatment option that works in a similar way and would be offered to the same population. Using NICE's cost comparison methods , if a treatment has similar benefits and costs to a comparator recommended in technology appraisal guidance it can be recommended as a treatment option. Evidence from clinical trials shows that faricimab is likely to work as well as aflibercept for people who have not had an anti‑VEGF treatment. There is limited evidence for how well faricimab works for people who have had an anti‑VEGF treatment. But clinical experts agreed that faricimab is likely to work as well as aflibercept for people who have had an anti‑VEGF treatment. A cost comparison suggests faricimab has similar costs and overall health benefits to aflibercept. In addition, a majority of people currently have aflibercept for this condition, particularly people starting treatment. So faricimab is recommended as an additional treatment option. There are no equality issues relevant to the recommendations. For all evidence see the committee papers . For more information on NICE's evaluation of aflibercept, see the consideration of the evidence section in NICE's technology appraisal guidance on aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion , and the committee discussion section in aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after branch retinal vein occlusion .

Faricimab is recommended, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after central or branch retinal vein occlusion in adults. It is only recommended if the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement .

If people with the condition and their healthcare professional consider faricimab to be 1 of a range of suitable treatments, after discussing the advantages and disadvantages of all the options, the least expensive should be used. Administration costs, dosages, price per dose and commercial arrangements should all be taken into account. Why these recommendations were made Visual impairment caused by macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion is usually treated with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‑VEGF) treatment (aflibercept or ranibizumab). Faricimab is another treatment option that works in a similar way and would be offered to the same population. Using NICE's cost comparison methods , if a treatment has similar benefits and costs to a comparator recommended in technology appraisal guidance it can be recommended as a treatment option. Evidence from clinical trials shows that faricimab is likely to work as well as aflibercept for people who have not had an anti‑VEGF treatment. There is limited evidence for how well faricimab works for people who have had an anti‑VEGF treatment. But clinical experts agreed that faricimab is likely to work as well as aflibercept for people who have had an anti‑VEGF treatment. A cost comparison suggests faricimab has similar costs and overall health benefits to aflibercept. In addition, a majority of people currently have aflibercept for this condition, particularly people starting treatment. So faricimab is recommended as an additional treatment option. There are no equality issues relevant to the recommendations. For all evidence see the committee papers . For more information on NICE's evaluation of aflibercept, see the consideration of the evidence section in NICE's technology appraisal guidance on aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion , and the committee discussion section in aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after branch retinal vein occlusion .