VABYSMO®

What Is VABYSMO® Used For?

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is one of the leading cause of severe, permanent vision loss in people over the age of 60, and VABYSMO® shows great promise in treating this condition. Additionally, this medication has a great track record in in treating diabetic macular edema (DME), as well.

As the first bispecific antibody, VABYSMO® treats both diseases via intravitreal injection by neutralizing angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VAGF-A). After four trials involving over 3,000 participants, the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved VABYSMO® in January 2022.

Treatment Indications

VABYSMO®  is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

• Neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD),
• Visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME).

Administration Technique

VABYSMO® is administered by the eye specialist as an intravitreal injection. The medication comes as a liquid solution in a single-dose vial. It comes in one strength of 120 milligrams per milliliter. Each vial contains a single dose of 6mg in 0.05ml of solution.

With neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), the recommended dose is 6 mg (0.05 ml solution) administered by intraviteal injection every month for the first 4 months. After that, the medical health provider will determine the dosage based on how the patient responds to the treatment. In patients without disease activity, VABYSMO® is administered every four months. In patients with disease activity, treatment every 8 or 12 weeks should be considered.

Monitoring between the dosing visits should be scheduled based on the patient’s status.

With visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME), the recommended dose is 6mg (0.05 ml solution) administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks for the first 4 doses. After that, treatment is individualised based on how the patient reacted to the treatment. Based on the medical provider’s judgement, the dosing interval may be extended up to every 16 weeks, in increments of up to 4 weeks.

VABYSMO® is intended for long-term treatment. If the patient is not benefiting from the treatment, the VABYSMO®  therapy should be discontinued.

Side Effects

Like any other medication, VABYSMO® can cause mild or serious side effects. Keep reading to find out some of the key VABYSMO® side-effects that may occur.

Mild Side Effects

Mild side effects of VABYSMO® can include: 

• Temporary vision changes (blurrines)
• Bright red spot on the white area of the eye due to bleeding in the conjuctiva
• Pain or irritation
• Floaters in vision
• Watering or itching
• Foreign body sensation 
• Mild allergy reaction

Most of these side effects usually go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or do not go away, the patient should contact their specialist.

Serious Side Effects

Serious side effects from VABYSMO® aren’t common, but they cn occur. The treatment recipient should alert their specialist immediately if they have any of these side-effects.

Serious side effects can include:

• Problems resulting from blood clots in arteries. Examples include stroke, heart attack, or blood vessel problems. 
• Eye problems, such as  detached retina and infection inside the eyeball. Symptoms can include redness, sensitivity to light, pain, changes in vision. 
• Temporary increase in intra-ocular pressure.
• Severe allergy reaction

Alergic reaction

As with most drugs, some people can experience a mild or a severe allergy reaction. Symptoms of a mild allergy reaction can include skin rash, itchiness, flushing. A more serious allergy reaction is displayed through symptoms such as swelling, trouble breathing, eye redness or swelling

If the patient notice an allergic reaction to VABYSMO®, they should alert their specialist immediately.

VABYSMO® vs. Competition

VABYSMO® offers a new way to treat vision loss through its dual mechanism of action. This formulation is the only injectable eye medicine to be approved simultaneously in the U.S. for both  neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

VABYSMO® has demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety in clinical trials as EYLEA®, which is the current standart for treating these two conditions. As a competitor for EYLEA® (aflibercept), VABYSMO® stands out for requiring fewer treatments. After the initial dosing, up to four months in between injections is needed, compared to EYLEA® dosing of one to two months.

Where Can I Order VABYSMO® ?

You can shop for VABYSMO® on our website at wholesale prices. DoctorMedica is a reliable supplier of medical products you know and trust at the lowest prices. If you are looking for more information on VABYSMO®, or need help to shop for VABYSMO® via our website, do not hesitate to call us.