Geographic Atrophy

From a phase 3 durability readout for a first-in-class TKI to a new interchangeable ranibizumab biosimilar and a deep dive into geographic atrophy management, June brought a wide-ranging mix of regulatory, clinical, and practice-pattern news for retina specialists

The RMAT designation opens the door to a faster development pathway for EO2002 as a minimally invasive alternative to corneal transplantation, while Emmecell also advances a cell therapy for geographic atrophy.

Border zone lifetime gradient correlated with growth rate over 5 years

Three real-world cases illustrate strategies to identify and manage GA across a range of scenarios, from coexisting wet age-related macular degeneration to functionally monocular patients.

In a preference study, Csaky and colleagues found that lesion growth rate reduction was the primary driver of GA treatment decisions among US retina specialists, with greater risk tolerance for foveal-threatening lesions.

Not every question in the management of patients with GA has a clear answer—the two retina specialists work through the ones clinicians face most often in practice.

A prospective pilot study finds focal photopic microperimetry may detect cone-mediated losses that lesion size and visual acuity do not reflect.

A retrospective study identifies thin choroid as the key factor behind ungradable ultrawidefield green-light fundus autofluorescence images in geographic atrophy.

Findings from an 856-patient analysis suggest that evaluating GA topography beyond foveal involvement may better capture patient-reported functional impairment.

Avacincaptad pegol may help preserve driving-related vision in geographic atrophy, but post hoc data did not reach statistical significance.

Sunil S. Patel, MD, PhD, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, breaks down QA102's first-in-class mechanism targeting harmful gut bacteria and retinal inflammation, what the phase 2 drusen volume and GA growth rate data reveal about the therapy's potential, and what a phase 3 program must address to bring an oral AMD treatment to patients without options.

Biogen buys Apellis, taking over Syfovre for geographic atrophy—what it means for GA care, trial data, safety signals, and future formulations.

Avacincaptad pegol may help preserve driving-related vision in geographic atrophy, but post hoc data did not reach statistical significance.

Oral QA102 shows imaging signals slowing drusen and GA progression in intermediate dry AMD at ARVO 2026, despite missing its primary end point.

Biogen’s $5.6B Apellis deal boosts GA and renal complement therapies, spotlighting SYFOVRE benefits, safety signals, and future access.

The Opti-GAIN study from Complement Therapeutics is assessing the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy in GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) of CTx001.

The Opti-GAIN study from Complement Therapeutics is assessing the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy in GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) of CTx001.

Q1 2026 eye-care roundup: first dual-agent presbyopia drop, new EDOF IOL, wet AMD phase 3 win, and gene-therapy advances.

Phase 2 ArMaDa data show statistically significant 31% reduction in GA lesion growth with OCU410 at 12 months, with a favorable safety profile supporting phase 3 development.

The trial, sponsored by ONL Therapeutics, aims to enroll approximately 324 patients across sites in Europe, the United States, and Canada.

University of Utah data show US ophthalmic drug and eye drop shortages last longer and occur more often, affecting local and systemic medications equally.

Three real-world GA cases reveal why early imaging-guided treatment matters, how fast vision can decline, and how to manage CNV risk with anti-VEGF.

Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg, MD, discusses how optical coherence tomography-based models may enable rapid, noninvasive assessment of functional loss in GA.

From artificial intelligence and IOL innovation to biosimilars, geographic atrophy, and postoperative eye protection, Joshua Mali, MD, FASRS, shares what he believes will define ophthalmology in the year ahead.