Avacincaptad Pegol
Avacincaptad pegol is an eye injection (given as Izervay) that treats geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
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The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 1 clinical label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
Avacincaptad pegol (Izervay) is a monthly eye injection given by an eye doctor for geographic atrophy, the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration. It is a newer specialist drug (on the U.S. market since about 2023) that blocks C5, a protein in the complement immune pathway, to curb formation of the membrane attack complex. Most people tolerate it well, and what they notice mostly comes from the injection itself: a red patch on the white of the eye, brief blurry vision or floaters. Call your eye doctor right away for eye pain, redness, light sensitivity or worsening vision after a shot, since these can signal endophthalmitis, a serious eye infection.
Clinical pearls
- It aims to slow the growth of damaged areas, not restore vision already lost, so do not expect sharper sight.
- It can raise the chance of wet AMD, so report new distortion, like straight lines looking wavy, between visits.
- Tell the clinic before your appointment if you have a stye, pinkeye, or any infection or inflammation in or around the eye.
- Plan a ride home from each injection visit, since blurred vision and eye discomfort afterward are common.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Avacincaptad Pegol, written from its FDA label.
What Avacincaptad Pegol is used for
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Avacincaptad pegol treats one eye condition.
- Izervay is used for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
How Avacincaptad Pegol works
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Avacincaptad pegol is an RNA aptamer, a type of PEGylated oligonucleotide (a small, modified piece of genetic-style material). It binds to and blocks complement protein C5, part of the immune system's complement pathway.
By blocking C5, it may stop C5 from splitting into C5a and C5b. That lowers the formation of membrane attack complex (MAC).
Avacincaptad Pegol dosage
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Izervay is given as an injection into the eye by a qualified physician. It is usually given about once a month to each affected eye.
- Each vial is used for one eye only.
- Your doctor will numb the eye and clean it before the injection.
- Your eye pressure is checked before and after.
Follow your prescriber's schedule and the label. Ask your eye doctor what to do if you miss a visit.
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Avacincaptad Pegol prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.
- Geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (each affected eye)
- 2 mg (0.1 mL of 20 mg/mL solution) administered by intravitreal injection to each affected eye once monthly (approximately every 28 ± 7 days)
- Only 0.1 mL (2 mg) should be administered to deliver a single dose; each vial and syringe should only be used for the treatment of a single eye
Read the label’s full dosing text
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dosage for IZERVAY is 2 mg (0.1 mL of 20 mg/mL solution) administered by intravitreal injection to each affected eye once monthly (approximately 28 ± 7 days) ( 2.2 ). 2.1 General Dosing Information IZERVAY must be administered by a qualified physician. 2.2 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage for IZERVAY is 2 mg (0.1 mL of 20 mg/mL solution) administered by intravitreal injection to each affected eye once monthly (approximately every 28 ± 7 days). 2.3 Preparation for Administration Important information you should know before you begin: • Read all the instructions carefully before using IZERVAY. • The IZERVAY kit includes a glass vial, filter needle, and an empty syringe. The glass vial, filter needle, and empty syringe are for single use only. • Store IZERVAY in the refrigerator at temperatures between 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF). Do not freeze. Do not shake. • Prior to use, allow IZERVAY to reach room temperature, 20⁰C to 25⁰C (68⁰F to 77⁰F). The IZERVAY vial may be kept at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Keep the vial in the original carton to protect from light. • Use aseptic technique to carry out the preparation of the intravitreal injection. • Each vial should only be used for the treatment of a single eye. Step 1: Gather Supplies Gather the following supplies ( see Figure A ): a. One IZERVAY vial (included) b. One sterile 5-micron filter needle 18-gauge x 1½ inch (included) c. One sterile 1 mL Luer lock syringe with a 0.1 mL dose mark (included) d. One sterile injection needle 30‑gauge x ½ inch (not included) NOTE: a 30-gauge injection needle is recommended to avoid increased injection forces that could be experienced with smaller diameter needles. e. Alcohol swab (not included) Figure A Step 2: Inspect Vial Inspect the liquid in the vial. It should be a clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to slightly yellow liquid solution ( see Figure B ). Do not use if particulates, cloudiness, or discoloration are visible. Do not use if the packaging, vial, filter needle, injection needle, and/or empty syringe are expired, damaged, or have been tampered with. Figure B Step 3: Orient Vial Place the vial upright on a flat surface for about 1 minute after removal from packaging to make sure all liquid settles at the bottom of the vial (see Figure C ) .
Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Avacincaptad Pegol side effects
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Most side effects involve the treated eye.
Common side effects
- Bleeding on the white of the eye (conjunctival hemorrhage)
- Increased eye pressure
- Blurred vision
- Neovascular (wet) AMD or abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina
- Eye pain
- Punctate keratitis (tiny areas of damage on the eye's surface)
- Vitreous floaters
When to get medical help
- Call your eye doctor right away if you have eye pain, eye redness, sensitivity to light, or blurred vision after an injection. These can be signs of endophthalmitis (a serious eye infection).
- Report any symptoms that could point to retinal detachment without delay.
- Tell your doctor about any changes in your vision. You will be monitored for signs of wet AMD.
- Eye pressure can rise for a short time after the injection, so your doctor will check for this.
Avacincaptad Pegol warnings and precautions
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- Endophthalmitis and retinal detachment: Eye injections can cause these. Report symptoms without delay.
- Wet AMD: Wet AMD occurred more often with Izervay than with sham in trials. You will be monitored for signs.
- Eye pressure: Brief increases can follow an injection. Your doctor will check.
Before taking Avacincaptad Pegol
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- Not for people with an eye or periocular infection.
- Not for people with active inflammation inside the eye.
- Pregnancy: no adequate studies in pregnant women. Use may be considered after weighing risks and benefits.
- Breastfeeding: no information on breast milk. Discuss risks and benefits with your doctor.
- Children: safety and effectiveness have not been established.
- Older adults: no dose change needed for people 65 and older.
- Kidney or liver problems: no dose adjustment is needed.
What Avacincaptad Pegol does in the body
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Growth of the geographic atrophy area reflects loss of photoreceptors (light-sensing cells) and AMD progression. In the GATHER1 and GATHER2 studies, avacincaptad pegol treatment groups showed a slower rate of GA growth.
How your body processes Avacincaptad Pegol
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After a monthly injection, blood levels peak at about 3 days. Blood levels are predicted to be about 1,400 times lower than levels in the eye. The drug is expected to be broken down into smaller pieces by enzymes. Its apparent half-life in the body is about 8 days. Age, sex, and body weight did not change how the body handled it.
How to store Avacincaptad Pegol
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Store IZERVAY in the refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Do not freeze. protect from light.
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Avacincaptad Pegol: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Avacincaptad Pegol — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What is Izervay for?
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How do I get the medicine?
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What side effects are common?
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When should I call my doctor?
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Can I get this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
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Can older adults use it?
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Is Avacincaptad Pegol available over the counter?
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When was Avacincaptad Pegol first available?
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Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Avacincaptad Pegol on HelloPharmacist
Avacincaptad Pegol forms and strengths (how it comes)
Avacincaptad Pegol is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Avacincaptad Pegol inactive ingredients by manufacturer.
Injection
How this form is used
- Izervay is used to treat geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
- Izervay is given by intravitreal injection into each affected eye about once a month.
- Izervay must be given by a qualified physician using sterile technique.
- Izervay vials and syringes are used for one eye only.
- Izervay should be stored in the refrigerator, and not frozen or shaken.
Avacincaptad Pegol on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Avacincaptad Pegol appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
1 company lists 1 Avacincaptad Pegol product record with the FDA, mostly as injection; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2023. Brand names on the directory include Izervay; the rest are generics.
Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (1) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.
How widely Avacincaptad Pegol is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Avacincaptad Pegol is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q2 2025 – Q1 2026, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Avacincaptad Pegol is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Avacincaptad Pegol prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Avacincaptad Pegol ranks #1,047 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 35% of them.
Utilization by Avacincaptad Pegol product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
0.1 ML avacincaptad pegol 20 MG/ML Injection
Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2645112
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Avacincaptad Pegol, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 1 of 2 listed Avacincaptad Pegol NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Avacincaptad Pegol products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Avacincaptad Pegol — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Injection | ||||
| 20 mg/mL | Intravitreal | Astellas Pharma US, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
Showing 1 of 1 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 1 Avacincaptad Pegol NDCs →
Avacincaptad Pegol side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Avacincaptad Pegol — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Avacincaptad Pegol in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Avacincaptad Pegol FDA approval history
How Avacincaptad Pegol went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Avacincaptad Pegol recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Avacincaptad Pegol recalls since July 2021.
✅No Avacincaptad Pegol recalls on record since July 2021Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Oct 8, 2026.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 2645108 1 dose form · 1 strength
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Dose form (SCDF) Injection RxCUI 2645111In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.1 ML avacincaptad pegol 20 MG/MLRxCUI 2645112
Look up RxCUI 2645108 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
Avacincaptad Pegol supply and shortage status
Whether Avacincaptad Pegol is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
Avacincaptad Pegol brand names
Avacincaptad Pegol is sold under one brand name in the FDA directory — Izervay. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Avacincaptad Pegol: manufacturers and labelers
One company lists Avacincaptad Pegol products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Astellas Pharma US, Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
Avacincaptad Pegol drug class (RxNorm)
Avacincaptad Pegol belongs to the Complement Inhibitor class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
Sources for this Avacincaptad Pegol page
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How this page is built
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. IVERIC bio, Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →