Syfovre, Izervay Side Effects May Thicken Retinal Nerves, Research Warns

Research presented by a Texas retina specialist at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting examined side effects of complement inhibitor drugs used to treat age-related macular degeneration. The study found that patients taking Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) or Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) experienced measurable annual increases in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness exceeding four micrometers. Researchers noted the clinical significance of these changes—whether beneficial or harmful—remains undetermined.

Syfovre and Izervay are complement inhibitors approved by the FDA in 2023 for treatment of geographic atrophy, a complication of AMD. Appellis Pharmaceuticals released Syfovre in February 2023 and Izervay in August 2023. Prior to this retinal nerve thickness finding, medical organizations had already raised safety flags about the drugs. Within months of Syfovre's market introduction, the American Society of Retina Specialists warned healthcare providers of reports linking the drug to eye inflammation, including at least six documented cases of occlusive retinal vasculitis—a serious condition that blocks blood flow to the retina.

This is a curated brief from the PlaintiffWire news desk. Read the original report at AboutLawsuits.