A Deeper Look at Pegcetacoplan (via Optometry Times Journal)
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pegcetacoplan (Syfovre; Apellis Pharmaceuticals) in February 2023 for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and now, for the first time, the community has a treatment option for dry AMD beyond vitamins. Pegcetacoplan is an intravitreal drug and, unlike anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections, it is not known yet to restore vision, but rather it slows GA lesion growth and spares retinal tissue from atrophy. If dosed monthly, or every other month, it can slow progression by 22% and 16%, on average, respectively. However, it seems to be more effective with extrafoveal lesions.
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