Roche Canada announces Vabysmo (faricimab injection) is now publicly funded for macular edema secondary to RVO on RAMQ

Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada) has announced that Vabysmo (faricimab injection) is now publicly funded for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) on the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) list of medications.

RAMQ is a public organization introduced in 1970, following the adoption of the universal health care system in Canada. It is responsible for the management of the Québec health insurance plan and serves as the cornerstone of healthcare in Quebec with the goal to eliminate cost as a barrier to accessing healthcare services²

Roche Canada announced this latest update includes funding for Vabysmo in a 6.0 mg single-use pre-filled syringe (PFS). Vabysmo received Health Canada authorization for treatment of macular edema secondary to RVO in July 2024 and the approval of the PFS format in December 2024.

Vabysmo is a humanized bispecific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody that acts through inhibition of both Ang-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). In Canada, Vabysmo is authorized for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and macular edema secondary to RVO. Vabysmo is also approved in more than 100 countries for DME and nAMD and in over 30 countries for macular edema following RVO.

Carlene Todd, vice president of access at Roche Pharmaceuticals Canada, commented on the coverage in a press release from the company, saying, “This expansion in coverage for people with RVO in Quebec is welcome news in our mission to advance eye care and provide innovative solutions for people living with serious retinal conditions. We are deeply committed to ensuring equitable and timely access to our treatments, ensuring that provinces across the country prioritize access to innovative medicines that will ultimately improve the lives of people impacted by vision loss."

Following the latest update, Vabysmo is now covered in Quebec for all 3 of its indications and in both formats, including nAMD, DME, and the latest, macular edema secondary to RVO.

Recently, Spherix Global Insights released data from the syndicated RealTime Dynamix studies that examined the competitive and complex treatment landscape for nAMD and DME. Findings showed that Roche/Genentech’s Vabysmo continues to lead in the retina market, earning strong marks for efficacy, physician satisfaction, and flexible dosing.³

Additionally, Korean investigators reported that Vabysmo in a real-world setting works well for patients with nAMD refractory to other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment.⁴

References:

1. VABYSMO (faricimab injection) now publicly funded for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and pre-filled syringe (PFS) in Quebec. Published August 15, 2025. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://www.rochecanada.com/media/vabysmo-faricimab-injection-now-publicly-funded-for-macular-edema-secondary-to-retinal-vein-occlusion-rvo-and-pre-filled-syringe-pfs-in-quebec

2. Duarte I. What is RAMQ? A Guide for Newcomers to Quebec. Published April 22, 2024. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://www.canadim.com/blog/what-is-ramq/

3. Crago SM. Survey data shows trends for AMD and DME treatments and future prospects. Published July 15, 2025. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/survey-data-shows-trends-for-amd-and-dme-treatments-and-future-prospects

4. Charters L. Study finds faricimab effective for nAMD patients unresponsive to other anti-VEGF treatments. Published February 6, 2025. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/study-finds-faricimab-effective-for-namd-patients-unresponsive-to-other-anti-vegf-treatments