Should I Treat This Patient With Geographic Atrophy? Weighing Benefits and Burden of Treatment with Complement Inhibitors

Should I Treat This Patient With Geographic Atrophy? Weighing Benefits and Burden of Treatment With Complement Inhibitors

Clinical Commentary

Geographic atrophy (GA) is a progressive disease that can cause blindness and loss of independence. Recent advances in imaging and the approval of pharmacologic therapies targeting the complement cascade have created new opportunities to slow disease progression; however, these therapies are associated with an increased risk of neovascular complications and unanswered questions about which patients should be treated. To help specialists interpret and apply the growing body of evidence in patient selection practices, this point-counterpoint digital activity uses case-based discussions to frame differing perspectives around complex clinical questions, helping learners critically review the risk-benefit profiles of novel agents and optimally select GA patients who may qualify for treatment with the new complement inhibitors.

Through the point-counterpoint exchange, faculty will discuss the following:

• Which patients could benefit from complement inhibition?

• Are there predictive factors that can inform personalized medicine?

• Has the efficacy of complement inhibitors been sufficiently demonstrated?

• What unanswered questions remain about efficacy and safety of the complement inhibitors?

• How should treatment response and adverse reactions be monitored?

• What are the implications of treatment for patients who have yet to significantly progress, and what are the potential concerns?

• Based on available evidence, when should patients be treated with complement inhibitors and for how long?

Faculty: Carl D. Regillo, MD, FACS, Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS, Xiao Yi (Ellie) Zhou, MD

Release Date: May 30, 2025

Expiration Date: May 30, 2026