Ois Podcast

A group of experts in AMD and geographic atrophy discussed two GA treatments in Phase III studies: Apellis’s pegcetacoplan and Iveric Bio’s Zimura.If approved, these therapies will potentially slow lesion growth and preserve vision in patients with GA. Because they require monthly or bimonthly injections, they may also dramatically increase workloads for already overtaxed retina specialists.David Boyer, MD, of Retina Vitreous Associates Medical Group, said they’ll adapt. Somehow. Tarek Hassan, MD, partner and director of vitreoretinal training at Associated Retinal Consultants, agreed, noting the current working model will have to change. Somehow. “If we think we’re helping our patients we’ll figure it out,” he said.For better or worse, the rollout could be a gradual one. New-onset exudation has been observed in both pegcetacoplan and Zimura. This may spook some physicians, the panel noted, and they’ll take a watch-and-wait approach. Even so, it’s an exciting development for a challenging condition.Listen to