Roche Canada completes negotiations with the pCPA for VABYSMO® to treat wet AMD and DME
VABYSMO is the first treatment for wet AMD and DME in Canada that acts by targeting both VEGF-A and Ang-2, two key drivers of vascular instability that have been associated with vision-threatening retinal conditions.
Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada) announced that the company has successfully completed negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for VABYSMO® (faricimab injection). This drug is indicated for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), two of the leading causes of vision loss among Canadians.
"Securing a letter of intent with the pCPA for VABYSMO is incredible news for patients and the vision loss community," said Larissa Moniz, Director, Research and Mission Programs, Fighting Blindness Canada in the press release. "We encourage the provinces to recognize the benefit that VABYSMO can bring to nAMD and DME patients, and prioritize public access for eligible Canadians."
VABYSMO is the first treatment for wet AMD and DME in Canada that acts by targeting both VEGF-A and Ang-2, two key drivers of vascular instability that have been associated with vision-threatening retinal conditions. This unique dual MoA is made possible by Roche's antibody engineering expertise.
"This milestone is a critical step towards providing access to VABYSMO for Canadians living with vision loss from nAMD and DME," said Varun Chaudhary, Chief of Ophthalmology and Professor of Surgery, Hamilton Regional Eye Institute, McMaster University in the press release. "VABYSMO has demonstrated promising results in terms of efficacy, safety and durability of effect for both these diseases, and expedited public access for Canadians in need of this treatment is of paramount importance."
VABYSMO was reviewed and positively recommended by Canada's Health Technology Assessment bodies, including The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) in the fall of 2022, as well as Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) earlier in 2023, for the treatment of nAMD and DME.
About VABYSMO® (faricimab injection)
VABYSMO is a humanized bispecific immunoglobulin G1(IgG1) antibody that acts through inhibition of both Ang-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). By inhibiting VEGF-A, faricimab suppresses endothelial cell proliferation, neovascularization and vascular permeability. By inhibiting Ang-2, faricimab is thought to increase vascular stability and desensitize blood vessels to the effects of VEGF-A. Ang-2 levels are increased in some patients with wet AMD and DME.
As a next step, Roche Canada is committed to continuing to work with other provincial jurisdictions to make VABYSMO available as soon as possible through public drug plans.
