- The ELEVATUM study showed clinically meaningful improvement in vision and reduction in retinal fluid in people with DME treated with Vabysmo who identify as African American, Black, Hispanic and Latino.
- Efficacy and safety from this Phase IV study were consistent with data from the Vabysmo phase 3 DME studies.
These racial and ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by diabetes and at higher risk of developing DME, a leading cause of vision loss
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced positive topline one-year results from the open-label, single-arm phase 4 ELEVATUM study evaluating Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in people from racial and ethnic groups that are often underrepresented in clinical trials.
Initial data from 124 participants in the United States showed that after one year of treatment with Vabysmo, administered every eight weeks, participants could read an additional 12.3 letters on average – equivalent to about two and a half lines on an eye chart. Results among major racial and ethnic groups represented in this study were similar. Hispanic and Latino participants started the study with the most severe disease and had an average vision gain of 14.1 letters from baseline at one year, equivalent to nearly three lines on an eye chart. African American and Black participants gained an average of 11.3 letters from baseline at one year. Vabysmo was well tolerated, with no new safety events identified.
These data were presented in a late-breaking oral presentation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago on October 18. The study is the first retina trial for historically underrepresented populations.
“Vabysmo has been shown to be an effective first-line treatment for diabetic macular edema, and for the first time, we now have data demonstrating its ability to improve vision in Black, African American, Hispanic, and Latino patients who are disproportionately impacted by this condition,” said investigator Jeremiah Brown, MD, of Retina Consultants of Texas, who presented the data at AAO. “As a clinician who serves patients from these communities, I felt it was important to take part in this groundbreaking study and hope the findings will inform and improve the care we provide to our patients in the clinic daily.”
Results were consistent with the phase 3 YOSEMITE and RHINE DME studies. A secondary endpoint showed robust retinal drying with Vabysmo across these racial and ethnic groups, who, on average, achieved a decrease of 206.3 microns in central subfield thickness (CST) from baseline.
Reducing CST indicates retinal drying, which is an important clinical measure, as swelling from excess fluid in the back of the eye is associated with distorted and blurred vision.
“Though certain ethnic and racial groups are disproportionately affected by DME, they lag far behind in clinical trial representation,” said Gregory A. Rippon, MD, MS, vice president, U.S. Medical Affairs. “We conducted the ELEVATUM study to specifically address this issue and understand how underrepresented patient populations respond to treatment with Vabysmo to help deliver better, more equitable care, and change how clinical trials are designed in the future.”
Among the 124 patients, 45% self-identified as Hispanic or Latino, and 48% as Black or African American. The study was designed to facilitate enrollment and promote retention of underrepresented patients.
For example, ELEVATUM was conducted at sites that treat a high proportion of these populations, in urban, rural, and community-based locations. In addition, eligibility criteria allowed participants with a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level up to 12%.
An HbA1c test measures a person’s average blood sugar levels over the past three months and is used to diagnose diabetes.
Typically, the threshold for DME trials is an HbA1c level of 10%.
However, HbA1c levels can be higher in Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino populations compared with Caucasians, meaning a lower HbA1c threshold can inadvertently lead to the exclusion of patients from various ethnic and racial groups.
“At Genentech we’re challenging the status quo and pioneering a new era of inclusive research that aims to directly address long standing health disparities,” said Quita Highsmith, vice president and chief diversity officer at Genentech. “The ELEVATUM study is a significant milestone that not only establishes a blueprint of best practices to enroll more diverse patients, but confirms our continued commitment to advancing inclusive research for all patients.”
To date, Vabysmo is approved in more than 100 countries for DME and wet, or neovascular, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and in over 30 countries for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
More than 5 million doses of Vabysmo have been distributed globally since its initial U.S. approval in 2022.
Genentech is committed to helping people access the medicines they are prescribed and offers comprehensive services for people prescribed Vabysmo to help minimize barriers to access and reimbursement. Patients can call 833-EYE-GENE for more information.
For people who qualify, Genentech offers patient assistance programs through Genentech Access Solutions. More information is also available at (866) 4ACCESS/(866) 422-2377 or https://www.Genentech-Access.com.
Visit https://www.Vabysmo.com for additional information.
About ELEVATUM
ELEVATUM (NCT05224102) is a phase 4, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study designed to evaluate Vabysmo as a treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients that have been historically underrepresented in clinical trials, including people who self-identify as Black, African American, Hispanic or Latino. Trial participants have not been treated with an anti‑vascular endothelial growth factor before the study. They receive treatment every 4 weeks with Vabysmo up to week 20, followed by treatment every 8 weeks up to week 52.
The primary endpoint is change from baseline in best corrected visual acuity at week 56. Secondary endpoints include safety and change in central subfield thickness from baseline over time.