Optimization of individualized faricimab dosing for patients with diabetic macular edema: Protocol for the SWAN...

In patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) from YOSEMITE/RHINE, dual angiopoietin-2/vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) inhibition with faricimab resulted in visual/anatomic improvements with extended dosing. The SWAN trial (jRCTs031230213) will assess the efficacy, durability, and safety of faricimab during the treatment maintenance phase in patients with DME using a treat-and-extend (T&E)-based regimen adapted to clinical practice and the characteristics of patients achieving extended dosing intervals.

SWAN is a 2-year, open-label, single-arm, interventional, multicenter trial enrolling adults with center-involving DME. All patients will receive three initial faricimab 6.0 mg doses every 4 weeks (Q4W). From week 12 onwards, in patients without active DME, dosing intervals will be extended in 8-week increments up to Q24W. In contrast, patients with active DME (central subfield thickness [CST] >325 μm and intraretinal fluid [IRF] or subretinal fluid [SRF] resulting in vision loss/disease aggravation) will receive a dose within a day and the dosing interval will be shortened by 4 weeks to a minimum of Q8W relative to the previous dosing interval. Recruitment commenced in August 2023 across a planned 16 sites in Japan.

The primary endpoint is change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline at 1 year (averaged over weeks 52, 56, and 60). Key secondary endpoints include: change from baseline in BCVA, CST, and National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire scores over time; proportion of patients with BCVA (decimal visual acuity) ≥0.5, ≥0.7, ≥1.0, or ≤0.1; proportion of patients with absence of DME, and IRF and/or SRF over time. Safety endpoints include incidence/severity of ocular/nonocular adverse events.

The SWAN trial is expected to provide evidence to support individualized faricimab dosing regimens, with the potential to reduce the burden of frequent treatments on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems.