Based on its mechanism of action, treatment with may pose a risk to reproductive capacity. Pharmacology
Faricimab is a 150kDa-sized bispecific antibody whose molecular structure allows a high affinity bond to both vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and Angiopoietin (Ang-2). By blocking the action of these two growth factors, faricimab decreases migration and replication of endothelial cells allowing for stabilization of vascular structures, thereby decreasing vascular leakage. Faricimab has shown improved and sustained efficacy in comparison to agents that only target the VEGF pathway. History
In 2016, pre-clinical studies looking at the mechanism of action behind faricimab showed that by blocking Ang-2, one of the drugs targets, there was decreased endothelial barrier breakdown in blood vessels. In 2017, phase I studies in neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD) showed that the drug was safe to use in people and well tolerated. Society and culture
Legal status
On 21 July 2022, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Vabysmo, intended for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular oedema (DME). The applicant for this medicinal product is Roche Registration GmbH. Faricimab was approved for medical use in the European Union in September 2022. Names
Faricimab is the International Nonproprietary Name (INN). Faricimab was formerly named RG7716.
Different patterns of muscle weakness or hyperactivity can occur based on the location of the lesion, causing a multitude of neurological symptoms, including spasticity, rigidity, or dystonia.Spastic hypertonia involves uncontrollable muscle spasms, stiffening or straightening out of muscles, shock-like contractions of all or part of a group of muscles, and abnormal muscle tone. It is seen in disorders such as cerebral palsy, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Rigidity is a severe state of hypertonia where muscle resistance occurs throughout the entire range of motion of the affected joint independent of velocity. It is frequently associated with lesions of the basal ganglia. Individuals with rigidity present with stiffness, decreased range of motion and loss of motor control. Dystonic hypertonia refers to muscle resistance to passive stretching (in which a therapist gently stretches the inactive contracted muscle to a comfortable length at very low speeds of movement) and a tendency of a limb to return to a fixed involuntary (and sometimes abnormal) posture following movement. Management
Therapeutic interventions are best individualized to particular patients.Basic principles of treatment for hypertonia are to avoid noxious stimuli and provide frequent range of motion exercise. Physical interventions
Physiotherapy has been shown to be effective in controlling hypertonia through the use of stretching aimed to reduce motor neuron excitability. The aim of a physical therapy session could be to inhibit excessive tone as far as possible, give the patient a sensation of normal position and movement, and to facilitate normal movement patterns.