Patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with faricimab 6 mg (Vabysmo; Genentech/Roche) gained nearly 9 letters of vision on average after 1 year, according to new results from the phase 3b/4 SALWEEN study presented at the 2025 Euretina congress in Paris. More than half of patients were able to extend treatment intervals to 5 months while maintaining vision—findings that suggest the therapy may reduce treatment burden in a condition that is a major cause of vision loss in Asia.

PCV is a subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) marked by abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina. It accounts for up to 60% of nAMD cases in Asian populations. SALWEEN enrolled 135 patients aged 50 and older across 9 markets in Asia, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Patients received 4 loading doses of Vabysmo over 12 weeks, then their treatment schedule was adjusted based on their progress, with doses given every 8, 12, or 16 weeks. From weeks 44 to 104, patients followed a personalized treatment plan with doses spaced out as far as every 20 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) averaged over weeks 40-48.

Timothy Lai, MD, director of the Retina and Macula Centre in Hong Kong, presented the 12-month data at Euretina. Participants gained an average of 8.9 letters in BCVA. Sustained reductions in retinal swelling were observed, and high rates of disease control were achieved: 61% of patients showed complete regression of polypoidal lesions and 86% achieved lesion inactivation. Both outcomes are associated with a lower risk of bleeding and progressive vision loss. Durability was a central focus of the trial.

By the 1-year mark, more than 50% of patients were assigned to dosing every 20 weeks, a reduction in injection frequency compared with standard anti-VEGF regimens. Safety results were consistent with those seen in earlier global trials of the drug.

With Asia’s aging population projected to drive the world’s largest increase in AMD cases by 2050, researchers noted the potential importance of long-acting treatment options. The SALWEEN trial remains ongoing and will continue to track efficacy, safety, and durability beyond one year.