Geographic Atrophy (GA) Clinical Trials and Treatments
Also called GA, advanced dry AMD, dry age-related macular degeneration, advanced dry macular degeneration
Geographic atrophy is the late-stage form of dry age-related macular degeneration, distinct from the wet (neovascular) form. It is characterized by well-demarcated areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy in the macula, the central region of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision.
Medicines are those whose current FDA label names Geographic Atrophy, checked October 14, 2026. Corticosteroids and immune globulins count once each. Download the data
Geographic atrophy is the late-stage form of dry age-related macular degeneration, distinct from the wet (neovascular) form. It is characterized by well-demarcated areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy in the macula, the central region of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. As RPE cells degenerate, the overlying photoreceptors lose metabolic support and die, creating expanding zones of irreversible vision loss.
The pathophysiology involves dysregulation of the complement system, a component of innate immunity, which drives chronicinflammation and progressive destruction of retinal tissue. Drusen (deposits of lipid and protein beneath the RPE) accumulate and activate complement cascades. The first FDA-approved treatments specifically for geographic atrophy target this complement pathway: pegcetacoplan (SYFOVRE, Apellis) inhibits C3, and avacincaptad pegol (IZERVAY, Astellas/Iveric Bio) inhibits C5. Both are administered as intravitreal injections and have been shown to slow the rate of atrophy expansion, though they do not restore lost vision. Geographic atrophy typically progresses over years, and maintaining regular monitoring with optical coherence tomography (OCT) is essential for tracking disease progression.
Why is Geographic Atrophy on Trial Friend?Geographic atrophy affects approximately 1 million people in the U.S., exceeding the rare disease threshold. It is included on Trial Friend because complement-targeted therapies represent a new treatment paradigm with active clinical development.
Common Symptoms of Geographic Atrophy
Recognizing the signs of Geographic Atrophy early can lead to faster diagnosis and better outcomes. Symptoms may vary in severity from person to person. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following, consider speaking with a specialist.
Dark or blank spots in the center of vision
Difficulty reading or seeing fine details
Colors appearing drab or less vibrant
Difficulty seeing in dim lighting
Gradual loss of central vision sharpness
Increased difficulty recognizing faces
Who Geographic Atrophy Affects
Primarily affects adults over 60, with risk increasing significantly with age. More common in women and those of European descent. Risk factors include smoking, family history of AMD, cardiovascular disease, and UV light exposure.
There are currently 2 FDA-approved medications for Geographic Atrophy. These therapies represent the current standard of care and may be used alongside or compared against investigational treatments in active clinical trials.
Real-world side effect reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Includes both FDA-approved drugs and investigational therapies from active clinical trials. Click any drug to see what patients reported.
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Genetic Testing
Genetic testing can confirm a diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, and identify family members who may be at risk.
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Trusted Geographic Atrophy Resources
Reputable organizations and medical references for learning more about Geographic Atrophy, including disease registries, foundation resources, and clinical guidelines.
Use this Geographic Atrophy clinical trial finder to see the 19 studies recruiting patients and 1 opening soon in the United States and worldwide, with eligibility criteria in plain English. Of these, 19 test a treatment and 1 is an observational study or registry; each card says which. These studies play a critical role in advancing care for eye & vision conditions and may offer access to treatments not yet widely available. Each trial below is sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English to help patients and caregivers evaluate whether a study may be a fit.
Note: Trial recruitment statuses on ClinicalTrials.gov may not immediately reflect recent FDA decisions, sponsor announcements, or enrollment changes. Always confirm a trial's current status directly with the study coordinator before making plans.
A Study to Optimize Subretinal Surgical Delivery and to Evaluate Safety and Activity of Opregen in Participants With Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (GAlette); Adaptive Optics (AO) Retinal Imaging Substudy in Association With Study GR44251
This study will evaluate the success and safety of subretinal surgical delivery as well as the preliminary activity of OpRegen in participants with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). All endpoints are assessed for the study eye unless otherwise indicated.
Ages 50 Years+17 locations
Started Mar 2023Updated yesterdayEst. Mar 2031 (~4y 4m)
A Study to Investigate Efficacy and Safety of FWY003 Compared With Placebo in Participants With Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-related Macular Degeneration
To characterize the dose response relationship of FWY003 in participants with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Ages 50 Years+59 locations
Started Mar 2026Updated 2 days agoEst. Aug 2029 (~2y 10m)
A Study Investigating Subcutaneously Administered Pozelimab in Combination With Cemdisiran or Cemdisiran Alone in Adult Participants With Geographic Atrophy
This study is researching experimental (study) drugs called pozelimab and cemdisiran. The study is focused on participants who have Geographic Atrophy (GA) caused by Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Geographic atrophy is a medical term that refers to later-stage cases of A...
Ages 50 Years to 85 Years231 locations
Started Oct 2024Updated 2 days agoEst. Jul 2028 (~1y 9m)
Age-related macular degeneration is a common eye disease in people over 50. The "dry" form of the disease can worsen into geographic atrophy, causing blind spots. Researchers want to learn if replacing older eye cells with younger ones can help treat this disease.
Ages 55 Years to 95 Years2 locations
Started Sep 2020Updated 2 days agoEst. May 2029 (~2y 7m)
An Optimised GA Interventional Trial (Opti-GAIN) to Test if Treatment With CTx001 is Safe and Works for People With Geographic Atrophy (GA)
Intervention: CTx001
Sponsor: Complement Therapeutics
This is a clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of CTx001, administered via a single subretinal injection, for GA (secondary to AMD).
Ages 55 Years+7 locations
Started Dec 2025Updated 1 week agoEst. May 2028 (~1y 7m)
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Data from ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Always talk to your doctor before considering a clinical trial.
Patient Communities
Connect with other Geographic Atrophy patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups across Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and YouTube channels. These patient communities offer peer support, shared experiences, caregiver resources, and real-time discussion about Geographic Atrophy treatments, clinical trial participation, and day-to-day disease management.
Other rare diseases in the eye & vision category. Patients with Geographic Atrophy may find relevant research, shared treatment pathways, or overlapping clinical trials among these related conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Geographic Atrophy
Geographic atrophy is the late-stage form of dry age-related macular degeneration, distinct from the wet (neovascular) form. It is characterized by well-demarcated areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy in the macula, the central region of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. As RPE cells degenerate, the overlying photoreceptors lose metabolic support and die, creating expanding zones of irreversible vision loss.
The most common symptoms of Geographic Atrophy include Dark or blank spots in the center of vision, Difficulty reading or seeing fine details, Colors appearing drab or less vibrant, Difficulty seeing in dim lighting, Gradual loss of central vision sharpness, among others. Approximately 1 million people in the U.S.; affects about 20% of those with age-related macular degeneration. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may vary between individuals.
Trial Friend lists all active clinical trials for Geographic Atrophy from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English. Patients can filter by trial phase and recruitment status, search by location, and use the Match Me tool to score trials against their profile. Geographic atrophy treatment is a rapidly evolving field with 2 FDA-approvedcomplement inhibitors, both given as injections into the eye: pegcetacoplan (Syfovre), approved in February 2023, and avacincaptad pegol (Izervay), approved in August 2023. Multiple next-generation approaches are in clinical trials.
Yes. As of October 14, 2026, 2 FDA-approved medicines have a current label that names Geographic Atrophy: Izervay (avacincaptad pegol), first approved in 2023; and Syfovre (pegcetacoplan injection (intravitreal)). Corticosteroids and immune globulins count once each.
The exact cause of Geographic Atrophy is not fully understood. It is not caused by a single gene; inherited variants raise risk, and immune, environmental or other triggers are thought to set it off. CFH and the ARMS2/HTRA1 region are the strongest risk loci for age-related macular degeneration, alongside age and smoking; no diagnostic gene test exists. Approximately 1 million people in the U.S.; affects about 20% of those with age-related macular degeneration. Research is ongoing to better understand the disease mechanism.
No single gene test diagnoses Geographic Atrophy. The diagnosis rests on clinical findings and laboratory or imaging results; genetic variants shift risk rather than cause the disease. CFH and the ARMS2/HTRA1 region are the strongest risk loci for age-related macular degeneration, alongside age and smoking; no diagnostic gene test exists.
Some trials collect genetic samples for research or check specific risk markers. The Genetic Testing section of this page shows any tests listed in the NIH Genetic TestingRegistry, which for this condition are usually research or risk-marker tests rather than diagnostic ones.
Eligibility for Geographic Atrophyclinical trials depends on factors like age, diagnosis, treatment history, and overall health. Each trial sets its own inclusion and exclusion criteria. Trial Friend translates these requirements from medical language into plain English so patients can review them more easily. The Match Me tool can score your profile against active trials to help identify studies that may be a fit.
Participating in a Geographic Atrophyclinical trial typically involves scheduled visits, medical tests, and close monitoring by a research team. Depending on the study phase, you may receive an investigational treatment, a placebo, or the current standard of care. Trials may last from a few weeks to several years. Study participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.