Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background and Importance Faricimab has proved to be an important therapeutic tool for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema. Aim and Objectives This study sought to determine the cost savings that can be achieved by implementing a faricimab vial sharing protocol in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Material and Methods A 5-month technical, observational, and retrospective study performed from 1 May to 30 October 2024 at the Hospital of Sagunto. Faricimab fractioning method consisted of aliquoting the product in a laminar flow hood following US Pharmacopeia standard. For preparing each batch, 10 vials of Vabysmo 120 mg/ml 1 VIAL 0,24 ml were needed. We used Zero Residual silicone oil-free filter needles and the auxiliary Zero Residual Bubble Adapter. Faricimab was passed into the sterile glass vial and finally, repackaged in Zero residual syringe 0.2 ml with sterile protective cap. Each syringe was filled with 0.08 ml of faricimab solution. Ten vials of Vabysmo were used for each batch prepared, 25 syringes of faricimab were obtained, resulting in 2.5 IVI doses of faricimab (0.08ml) from one vial of Vabysmo. The prepared syringes were placed in a sterile photoprotector bag and stored 2–8°C. Intavitreal injections (IVI) were administered in the theatre, following the Royal College of Ophthalmologists′ Guidelines for IVI Procedure, within the next 8 days after the fractioning process. Results A total of 433 IVI (6mg/0,05 ml) of faricimab were administered to 156 patients with AMD-DME from 1 May to 30 October 2024 in the ophthalmology department of the Hospital of Sagunto. Cost savings were calculated for the total number of IVI administered. The cost of 433 IVI would have been 404.876,65€ considering that a faricimab vial is acquired for 935,05€. With the fractioning method, 174 vials were used for all the injections (three 2.5 doses prepared from a vial), costing 161.950,70€ and thus saving 242.925,95€ (59.8%), reducing the single IVI’s cost from 935,05€ to 374,02€. The estimated total cost savings between these 5 months, when the compounding was commissioned, was 242.925,95€. Conclusion and Relevance Faricimab vial sharing from a single vial showed that this mab is also fractioned with a significant reduction in public health care costs associated with antiangiogenic treatment. References and/or Acknowledgements Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest
Authors: J Borras, J Abad, S Luna Vicente, L Perez Gil, J Zarco Bosquet
Institution: Hospital de Sagunto
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4408376452