Apellis’ Pegcetacoplan Shows Promise in Two Phase 3 Trials

Apellis Pharmaceuticals’ pegcetacoplan has shown promise in two late-stage clinical trials as a treatment for geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration – an advanced form of the eye disease.

The targeted C3 therapy, which is administered directly into the eye, showed meaningful reductions in geographic lesion growth in both studies. However, it will continue to be studied in an extension trial for an additional three years.

The FDA has granted the drug a priority review and has set a decision date of Nov. 26 for the New Drug Application.  

The company also plans on submitting a marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency by the end of this year.