Roche Pharma launches Vabysmo to treat vision impairment

livemint.com:

₹400,000 in India for the first year of treatment, and ₹200,000 for subsequent years due to lesser dosage requirements. In the US, it is listed at $2,190, subject to insurance coverage variations. "…(R)etinal conditions are often diagnosed late or neglected, leading to vision loss," said V Simpson Emmanuel, chief executive and managing director, Roche Pharma India.

“With fewer eye injections over time, while also improving and maintaining vision and anatomy, Vabysmo offers a more convenient and effective treatment schedule for patients, their caregivers and healthcare systems." The launch of Vabysmo marks the company’s entry into ophthalmology in India. Unlike existing treatments that only target the VEGF pathway, Vabysmo's dual-targeting molecule offers a novel mechanism of action (MoA) that has been absent in nAMD treatment for over 15 years and nearly a decade in DME treatment. This dual inhibition stabilizes the retina's blood vessels, leading to improved vision outcomes, the company said.

AMD affects the central part of the retina, essential for activities requiring sharp vision, such as reading. It is the primary cause of vision loss in individuals over 60, affecting around 20 million people worldwide. DME, if untreated, can lead to blindness and significantly reduce the quality of life.