Post hoc analysis of GATHER1 on Zimura provides OCT-based support to previous findings

A post hoc analysis of the GATHER1 clinical trial on Zimura, an investigational new therapy for geographic atrophy, showed the potential to rely on OCT to measure the effect of the treatment on disease progression.

According to a press release from Iveric Bio, manufacturer of Zimura (avacincaptad pegol), “the results of the post hoc analysis showed that OCT-measured GA area strongly correlated with FAF-measured GA area, with minimal average differences in GA area between modalities.”

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF), an imaging modality typically used in geographic atrophy (GA) clinical trials, was used in the GATHER1 trial to measure GA. In the post hoc analysis, OCT showed a 30% reduction in GA growth after 1 year of treatment with Zimura, consistent with the previous findings using FAF. In addition, a 22% reduction in progressive ellipsoid zone integrity loss at 18 months was observed with Zimura vs. sham.

These findings further support the positive outcomes of GATHER1, showing that Zimura might offer an effective therapeutic option for a disease that has no treatment so far. In addition, the release highlighted the possibility of using OCT, a technology that retina specialists are familiar with and equipped with, to accurately diagnose and monitor patients with GA.