Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a negative opinion on the marketing authorization application (MAA) of intravitreal pegcetacoplan for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As previously announced, this opinion was expected based on a negative trend vote following an oral explanation meeting in December 2023. Apellis plans to seek immediate re-examination of its application.

The MAA is based on results from the Phase 3 OAKS and DERBY studies at 24 months, which were published in The Lancet. Treatment with both every-other-month and monthly pegcetacoplan reduced GA lesion growth with increasing treatment effects over time and showed a well-demonstrated safety profile. Additionally, pegcetacoplan preserved visual function longer in multiple post hoc Phase 3 analyses that have been presented at medical congresses.