Clinical Scorecard: Visual Function Benefit of Treatments for Geographic Atrophy

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Pivotal trials showed approximately 15% reduction in GA growth rates over 12 months.
• No significant treatment effect on visual function endpoints like visual acuity and reading speed.
• Measurement variability in visual function endpoints is significantly higher than in structural measurements of GA extent.
• Defect-mapping microperimetry (DMP) may better capture visual sensitivity loss compared to conventional methods.
• Absence of significant treatment effects does not equate to lack of functional benefit due to limitations of assessment tools.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Utilize comprehensive visual function assessments including advanced microperimetry techniques.

Management

• Consider therapies that slow GA growth while being aware of their limitations in improving visual function.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regularly assess visual function using both structural and functional measures to capture treatment effects.

Risks

• Increased risk of macular neovascularization and retinal vasculitis associated with pegcetacoplan.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients diagnosed with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Current therapies may slow GA progression but lack evidence for improving visual function.

Clinical Best Practices

• Employ defect-mapping microperimetry for more accurate assessment of visual sensitivity in GA.
• Integrate both structural and functional assessments in clinical trials to better evaluate treatment efficacy.

References

• Pivotal Trials of Pegcetacoplan and Avacincaptad Pegol
• Visual Function Endpoints in GA