For GA Treatment, the Earlier the Better

By Dr. Kevin -

A study from the ARVO 2026 meeting confirms that early intervention for geographic atrophy (GA) using pegcetacoplan (Syfovre) significantly improves long-term outcomes compared to delayed treatment.

Key Study Findings

Researchers analyzed 782 patients transitioning from the two-year OAKS/DERBY trials into the three-year GALE extension study.

  • Superior Tissue Preservation: Patients who started treatment immediately (early group) preserved 3.87 mm² of retinal tissue over five years. Those who started two years late (delayed group) preserved only 1.93 mm².

  • Reduced Growth Rates: In nonsubfoveal GA, monthly injections reduced lesion growth by 33% compared to the sham group.

  • Disease Delay: Continuous five-year therapy delayed the progression of nonsubfoveal GA by approximately 16.5 to 18.5 months.

  • Safety Profile: The treatment remained well-tolerated over five years. Rare instances of retinal vasculitis occurred in fewer than 1 in 4,000 cases, consistent with earlier trial data.

Conclusion

The study concludes that pegcetacoplan is an effective long-term therapy for GA secondary to AMD. The significant difference in tissue preservation between the groups emphasizes that early diagnosis and immediate treatment are critical for saving vision.

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