What changed
Vabysmo maintained control of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) through two years in the SALWEEN study. Complete polyp regression rose from 61% after one year to 62% after two, while polyp inactivation stayed near 86%.
About 74% of patients reached dosing intervals of at least 16 weeks in the second year, and roughly 60% reached 20 weeks under the study protocol. In Korea, however, Vabysmo is currently approved for intervals of up to 16 weeks.
Why it matters
PCV is classed as a form of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, but Professor Lee Jun-yeop of Asan Medical Center describes it as almost a separate disease. Its sac-like polyps can recur or bleed suddenly, and repeated bleeding and inflammation may lead to fibrosis and vision loss.
That makes durability more than a convenience. Fewer injections and hospital visits could ease long-term treatment, while steady suppression of the lesions may matter as much as the initial response. The study also supports the logic behind Vabysmo’s dual targeting of VEGF and angiopoietin-2, which is intended to address both abnormal vessel growth and vascular stability.
The result is promising, but its meaning has limits. SALWEEN does not show that Vabysmo is superior to VEGF inhibition alone, and a 20-week interval in the study does not mean every patient can safely wait that long or that approval will follow. Accurate diagnosis still matters: OCT is routinely used, but angiography is needed to identify the polyps and distinguish PCV from typical AMD.
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