Apellis Pharmaceuticals has announced long term results from their Phase 3 DERBY and OAKS clinical studies, testing the efficacy and safety of APL-2 (now called intravitreal pegcetacoplan), as a treatment for geographic atrophy (GA). GA is also known as advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. In an analysis conducted at month 18 of the clinical studies, treatment [Read More]
Category: Latest News
Long-awaited Faricimab for wet AMD and DME approved
The FDA has approved Genentech’s Vabysmo (first announced here as faricimab), the only injectable eye medicine approved simultaneously in the U.S. for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Vabysmo will be administered using flexible dosing regimens based on patient need. The medication targets and inhibits two disease pathways by neutralizing angiopoietin-2 [Read More]
Cataract Surgery Shown to Reduce Risk of Dementia
Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Washington have found strong evidence that cataract surgery can lower the risk of developing dementia for up to 10 years in senior adults. The news was reported in the December 6, 2021 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine. The Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study of more than 5,000 senior adults showed [Read More]
Prevent Blindness Launches New Awareness Initiative to Educate Public About Geographic Atrophy
Prevent Blindness has launched its first-ever Geographic Atrophy (GA) Awareness Week from December 6-12, 2021. GA is an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (commonly referred to as AMD) which leads to vision loss in the center of one’s vision. Geographic atrophy results in areas of damaged tissue causing central blind spots. It is [Read More]
FDA Approves First Biosimilar Drug for Treatment of Wet AMD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Byooviz (ranibizumab-nuna) as the first biosimilar to Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for the treatment of wet AMD. Byooviz is also approved to treat macular edema and myopic choroidal neovascularization, a vision-threatening complication of myopia (nearsightedness). The drug is administered by intravitreal injection (delivered into the vitreous humor [Read More]