**Iveric Bio**, a biopharmaceutical company, has announced promising new data from the GATHER trials for their drug, **avacincaptad pegol**. The drug is being developed to treat **geographic atrophy (GA)**, which is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in people aged 65 and older. This article will provide an overview of the drug, the trials, and their implications for people suffering from GA.

## What is Geographic Atrophy (GA)?

Geographic atrophy is a degenerative retinal disease that affects the part of the retina called the macula, which is responsible for central, high-resolution vision. In GA, the macula becomes damaged, leading to the gradual loss of central vision. This condition affects millions of people worldwide and, to date. There currently is only one FDA-approved treatment available (Syfovre).

## What is Avacincaptad Pegol?

Avacincaptad pegol is an drug being developed by Iveric Bio. It is a small molecule designed to target and inhibit a particular protein called **complement factor 5 (C5)**. Overactivity of the complement system, which includes C5, is believed to play a key role in the development and progression of GA. By inhibiting C5, avacincaptad pegol aims to slow or halt the progression of GA and help maintain patients' visual function for a longer period of time.

## The GATHER Trials

The GATHER trials consist of two separate studies: GATHER1 (completed) and GATHER2 (ongoing). The trials aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of avacincaptad pegol in reducing the progression of GA.

### GATHER1

GATHER1 was a Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 286 participants with GA. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either avacincaptad pegol or a placebo every 12 weeks for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint of the trial was the change in the size of the GA lesion at week 48.

The trial results demonstrated that avacincaptad pegol was well-tolerated and showed a statistically significant reduction in the growth rate of GA lesions compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, a post-hoc analysis revealed that the drug was also associated with a significant reduction in vision loss.

### GATHER2

GATHER2 is an ongoing Phase 3 trial designed to further investigate the safety and efficacy of avacincaptad pegol in a larger participant population. The trial aims to enroll approximately 600 participants with GA and will assess the change in GA lesion size over 96 weeks.

## Implications for People with GA

The positive results from the GATHER1 trial and the ongoing GATHER2 trial offer hope for people suffering from GA. Avacincaptad pegol could potentially become a second FDA-approved treatment for this devastating condition, offering patients a chance to maintain their vision for a longer period of time. While more research is needed to fully understand the drug's safety and efficacy, these initial findings are an encouraging step forward in the quest for a treatment option for GA patients.

In summary, Iveric Bio's drug has shown promise in reducing the progression of geographic atrophy and vision loss in patients with GA. The GATHER trials will continue to provide crucial data on the safety and efficacy of this potential treatment, which could ultimately lead to improved quality of life for millions of people affected by this debilitating eye condition.