Izervay
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) is used to treat adults with geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This medication belongs to a drug class known as complement inhibitors. It's typically injected into the eye by an eye specialist. Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) might help prevent the worsening of GA and slow down vision loss, but it might cause side effects like eye redness and blurry vision.
What is Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)?
What is Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) used for?
Geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD)
How Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) works
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) is a lab-made RNA molecule that works as a complement inhibitor. The medication blocks complement protein C5, a protein in your immune system that plays a role in GA (inflammation and cell death in the retina and eventual vision loss).
By blocking C5 proteins from working, Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) lowers inflammation and slows down cell loss in the retina. This helps protect your retina from further damage, slow down the worsening of GA, and potentially lower the risk of vision loss from GA.
Drug Facts
What are the side effects of Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)?
Common Side Effects
- Blood spots on the whites of eye or eye redness (13%)
- Raised eye pressure (9%)
- Blurry vision (8%)
Other Side Effects
- Floaters
- Other changes in vision
- Eye pain
- Eyelid inflammation or irritation
Serious Side Effects
- Eye infection (endophthalmitis): eye pain, sensitivity to light, loss of vision, eye redness
- Retinal detachment: flashing lights, feeling like something is covering your vision, changes in your vision, vision loss, seeing floaters
- Signs of wet AMD: straight lines looking wavy, blurry vision, blank spots in your vision
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Blurry vision, vision loss, seeing wavy or bent objects or blind spots with dark, light, or flashing spots
- Eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge with blurry or decreased vision
- Sensitivity to light
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Eye irritation or itching
- Small spots floating in vision
Pros and cons of Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)
Pros
Typically injected once a month, so it's convenient for people with a busy schedule
Works to slow the worsening of GA in as early as 6 months
No significant interactions with other medications or supplements
Cons
Needs to be given by a trained healthcare provider
Risk of eye infection or eye injury
Requires regular monitoring of eye pressure (before and after each injection)
Pharmacist tips for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)
You'll typically get Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injections done at the eye specialist's office. Your healthcare provider will have the right tools and proper technique to safely administer the medication to lower the risk of eye infection.
Make sure to plan for some extra time for your appointment for your provider to check your eye pressure before and after the procedure. This is because Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) can temporarily raise your eye pressure. Getting your eye pressure checked helps make sure the medication is safe for you.
Before your Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injection, your provider will give you a numbing medication (e.g., eye drops) to ease any pain and discomfort from the procedure. Your provider might also use a topical antibiotic beforehand to prevent infection.
After your Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injection, don't drive a car or operate machinery until you're sure you can see clearly. Arrange for someone to drive you to and from your eye appointment. This medication can cause temporary visual changes. Your eyesight might also be blurry from any eye exams your provider might perform right after your injection.
Tell your provider right away if you experience eye pain, eye redness, blurry vision, or sensitivity to bright light after your Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injection. These can be signs of severe eye problems, such as serious eye infection or damage.
It's best to get your Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injections regularly according to your provider's treatment plan. Call your provider's office about rescheduling your appointment if you missed an injection.
Frequently asked questions about Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)
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What are the risks and warnings for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)?
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Eye infection and damage
Very rarely, eye injections, such as Izervay (avacincaptad pegol), can lead to endophthalmitis (infection of the tissues or fluids inside the eyeball) or detached retina (when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye). This can sometimes happen when the eye gets contaminated or infected during the injection.
Having a trained eye specialist perform the injection helps lower the risk for eye contamination and eye damage. Your healthcare provider will use proper techniques and tools during the procedure. In addition, your provider might use a topical antibiotic beforehand to prevent eye infections.
Make sure to follow up with your provider after your appointment to check for any visual changes. Call your provider right away if your eye becomes red or sensitive to light or if you have eye pain or changes in vision.
Risk of wet AMD
Risk factor: Regular injections of Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)
In clinical studies comparing Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) to placebo, more people who were treated with the medication developed wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). This eye condition happens when abnormal blood vessels grow and leak in the part of your eye that's responsible for clear central vision. Tell your provider right away if you notice signs of wet AMD, like straight lines looking wavy, blurry vision, or blank spots in your vision.
Higher eye pressure
Risk factor: Regular injections of Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)
People who get Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injections can sometimes develop higher eye pressure because there's more fluid in the eye due to the injection. This is usually temporary and typically happens soon after the injection. The risk might be higher in people who get regular eye injections.
Your provider will check your eye pressure each time before and after your Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injection. This makes sure the medication continues to be safe for you. Talk to your provider immediately if you have intense eye pain, red eye, blurry vision, or nausea after your Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) injection.
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) dosage forms
Typical dosing for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)
The typical dose is 2 mg injected into the affected eye(s) once a month for up to 12 months. The injection is carefully administered by an eye specialist at a provider's office or clinic.
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) contraindications
Current infection in or around the eye
Currently have eye inflammation (e.g., swelling, pain, redness)
What are alternatives to Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)?
Geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD)
Geographic atrophy due to age-related macular degeneration
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) images
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References
Best studies we foundAmerican Macular Degeneration Foundation. (n.d.). Geographic atrophy.
American Society of Retinal Specialists. (n.d.). Endophthalmitis.
Astellas Pharma US, Inc. (2024). Izervay- avacincaptad pegol injection [package insert]. DailyMed.
Bakri, S. J., et al. (2023). Geographic atrophy: Mechanism of disease, pathophysiology, and role of the complement system. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy.
Csaky, K. G., et al. (2024). Drug approval for the treatment of geographic atrophy: How we got here and where we need to go. American Journal of Ophthalmology.
Han, J., et al. (2020). Anesthesia for intravitreal injection: A systematic review. Clinical Ophthalmology.
Jaffe, G. J., et al. (2020). C5 inhibitor avacincaptad pegol for geographic atrophy eue to age-related macular degeneration: A randomized pivotal phase 2/3 trial. Ophthalmology.
MedlinePlus. (2016). Retinal disorders.
National Eye Institute. (2021). Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
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