Ellipsoid zone biomarker may help predict geographic atrophy progression
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Ellipsoid zone integrity may be an important biomarker in predicting the progression of geographic atrophy in eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration.
In addition, avacincaptad pegol (ACP) may slow geographic atrophy (GA) progression in eyes with more severe ellipsoid zone (EZ) damage at baseline.
“Utilizing biomarkers such as this can be really helpful to be able to guide treatment of who to select for treatment as well as to be able to assess if they’re having a response,” Katherine E. Talcott, MD, said at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting.
In a post hoc analysis of data from the GATHER1 and GATHER2 clinical trials, researchers evaluated the link between baseline EZ integrity and GA progression over the course of 12 months.
“For each of the EZ metrics, there was a significant difference in the GA growth if you compared the fast GA growth group to the very slow GA growth group,” Talcott said.
Eyes that experienced fast GA growth also had greater amounts of EZ attenuation, Talcott said.
“This suggests that those eyes with greater EZ attenuation may be at risk for faster GA growth,” she said.
Similar patterns were noted in the eyes treated with ACP, Talcott said.
“There was a significant difference for each of the baseline EZ metrics and between the fast GA growth and the very slow GA growth group,” she said.
For eyes in the top quartile of EZ burden at baseline, ACP slowed the progression of GA over the course of 12 months compared with placebo, Talcott said,
“Eyes with greater EZ attenuation, partial EZ attenuation as well as EZ attenuation beyond the area of GA, that’s the EZ GA gap, at baseline, in general exhibited faster GA growth rates,” Talcott said.
Talcott emphasized the importance of these EZ metrics as biomarkers for GA growth and as a tool to assess response to treatment.
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Talcott K, et al. Baseline ellipsoid zone integrity features as predictors of geographic atrophy growth rate in the phase 3 GATHER clinical trials. Presented at: American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting; July 17-20, 2024; Stockholm.
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