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Izervay (avacincaptad pegol)

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By Editorial Team

2 min read

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: May 2024 | Last updated: June 2024

Izervay™️ (avacincaptad pegol) is the second treatment to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat geographic atrophy (GA). Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Currently, GA affects around 1 million people in the United States. It is a very serious condition that can lead to vision loss and blindness.1,2

What are the ingredients in Izervay?

The active ingredient in Izervay is avacincaptad pegol.3

How does Izervay work?

Izervay is a complement inhibitor that helps to slow the progression of GA. Complements are an important part of the immune system that normally help to detect, attack, and remove foreign pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. In people with GA, these complements are thought to be overactive and mistakenly attack healthy cells in the eye.2,4

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Izervay works by blocking a specific complement protein active in the eye, complement protein C5, helping to slow down the progression of damage to retinal cells over time.2,4

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effects of Izervay are:3

  • Blurry vision
  • Bleeding in the white part of the eye
  • Increase in pressure inside the eye
  • Wet AMD

These are not all the possible side effects of Izervay. Talk to your doctor about what to expect when taking Izervay. You also should call your doctor if you have any changes that concern you when taking Izervay.

Other things to know

Izervay is an injection that is given by a doctor into the eye. This is called an intravitreal injection. After an Izervay injection, you may experience blurred or impaired vision for a while. Do not drive or operate machinery until your vision is back to normal. Izervay is given once a month for up to 12 months.1,3

Do not receive Izervay if you have an active eye infection or have any swelling, pain, or redness in or around your eye.3

There is not enough data to know whether Izervay is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. Before receiving Syfovre, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.3

Before beginning treatment for geographic atrophy, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs.

For more information, read the full prescribing information of Izervay.

Treatment results and side effects can vary from person to person. This treatment information is not meant to replace professional medical advice. Talk to your doctor about what to expect before starting and while taking any treatment.