Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) is a prescription injection for adults to treat geographic atrophy from a certain type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Syfovre comes as a solution that’s injected into your eye.

Syfovre contains the active ingredient pegcetacoplan. It belongs to a drug class called complement inhibitors.

Syfovre is a brand-name medication made by the company Apellis Pharmaceuticals. Currently, Syfovre has no generic version.

Syfovre can be used in adults to treat geographic atrophy that’s due to a certain type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is also called its indication.

The two types of AMD are dry AMD and wet AMD. (Dry AMD is more common than wet AMD.) Geographic atrophy is the most advanced stage of dry AMD. It occurs when lesions or damage occurs to your retina. (The retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of your eye).

AMD can cause central vision loss, which means you can’t see something directly in front of you. The symptoms of AMD worsen over time without treatment.

It’s thought that the lesions that occur with geographic atrophy from dry AMD are caused by an overactive immune system. Syfovre works on your immune system so that it doesn’t attack your eye. This helps prevent lesions from worsening. But it’s important to note that Syfovre won’t reverse vision damage that has already occurred.

Like most drugs, Syfovre may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Syfovre may cause. These lists don’t include all side effects that are possible.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Syfovre. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone. It gives doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Syfovre and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

The following list includes some of the mild side effects that Syfovre can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Syfovre’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Syfovre that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Syfovre can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Syfovre, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Syfovre that have been reported include:

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Syfovre.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause difficulty breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Syfovre. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Syfovre that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but your doctor will determine the dosage you’ll receive.

Form and strength

Syfovre is available as a solution that’s injected into your eye. It comes in a vial that contains 150 milligrams (mg) of medication in 1 milliliter (mL) of solution.

Recommended dosage

You’ll receive Syfovre injections at your doctor’s office. The usual recommended dosage is 15 mg injected into the affected eye every 25 to 60 days. Your doctor will determine how often you’ll receive doses of Syfovre.

How it’s given

Your doctor will explain how Syfovre will be administered. They’ll also explain how much you’ll receive and how often.

You’ll receive Syfovre injections at your doctor’s office. The medication will be injected into a specific area of your eye. Before getting your Syfovre injection, your doctor will numb your eye.

Your vision may be affected temporarily after receiving a Syfovre injection. Because of this, you’ll need someone else to drive you home from your injection appointments.

If you have other questions about what to expect from your appointments to receive Syfovre, talk with your doctor.

Questions about receiving Syfovre

Below are some common questions about using Syfovre.

  • What if I miss a dose of Syfovre? You’ll receive Syfovre injections at your doctor’s office. If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Syfovre, reschedule it as soon as possible.
  • Will I need to use Syfovre long term? Most people use Syfovre long term. Syfovre works to slow the progression of geographic atrophy that’s due to a certain type of AMD. As long as the drug is effective for you without causing bothersome side effects, your treatment will likely continue long term.
»MORE ON DOSAGE OF SYFOVRE:See this article.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Syfovre.

Is Syfovre similar to Izervay?

Syfovre may have some similarities to Izervay (avacincaptad pegol), which was formerly called Zimura. Like Syfovre, Izervay can also be used to treat geographic atrophy due to a certain type of AMD. Both drugs come as a solution that a healthcare professional injects into the eye. These drugs can cause similar side effects, although some differ.

To find out more about how Syfovre compares with Izervay, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Will Syfovre cure geographic atrophy?

No, Syfovre will not cure geographic atrophy. This condition currently has no cure.

However, Syfovre works to slow the growth of lesions in the eye that occur with geographic atrophy. This helps prevent your condition from getting worse. But it’s important to note that Syfovre won’t reverse vision damage that has already occurred.

If you have questions or concerns about what to expect from Syfovre treatment, talk with your doctor.

What is Syfovre’s mechanism of action?

Syfovre works on your immune system so that it doesn’t attack your eye. (It’s thought that dry AMD lesions are caused by an overactive immune system.)

Specifically, Syfovre’s mechanism of action (how it works) is decreasing the action of a protein called C3. This protein is involved in immune system responses. This decrease in the action of C3 can keep your AMD symptoms from worsening over time.

Whether or not you have health insurance, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Syfovre. Syfovre’s cost may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called ApellisAssist may also be available.

Consider the important information in this section before beginning treatment with Syfovre.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Syfovre is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer did not list any interactions in the drug’s prescribing information. However, interactions can still occur. For example, other drugs may be approved in the future that may have interactions with Syfovre.

Before starting Syfovre treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about Syfovre interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Syfovre injections during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

At this time, not enough studies have been done to determine what effects Syfovre may have on a fetus. It’s also not known whether Syfovre passes into breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a child who’s breastfed.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or planning either, talk with your doctor before starting Syfovre treatment.

Birth control

If you can become pregnant, it’s important to use birth control during your Syfovre treatment. You should also use it for 40 days after your last dose. This is because it’s not known whether the drug may be safe to take during pregnancy. Birth control may include condoms or birth control pills.

If you have questions about using birth control during your Syfovre treatment, talk with your doctor.

Warnings

Syfovre can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Syfovre is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Syfovre. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • current eye infections
  • swelling of the eye
  • eye inflammation
  • a condition that causes high pressure in your eye, such as glaucoma
  • past allergic reaction to Syfovre or any of its ingredients
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Besides Syfovre, one other drug is available to treat geographic atrophy due to a certain type of AMD. This drug is called Izervay (formerly known as Zimura).

Other drugs that are approved to treat AMD include:

Although these drugs treat AMD, it’s important to note that they’re not approved for geographic atrophy. If you have questions about your treatment options for AMD, talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.