Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) is a brand-name injectable medication. It’s prescribed for geographic atrophy due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Syfovre can cause side effects such as eye pain or bleeding.

Syfovre can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Syfovre in clinical trials:

Mild side effects can occur with Syfovre use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Syfovre’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Syfovre include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews the side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Syfovre and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

Serious side effects can occur with Syfovre, but they aren’t common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Syfovre’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Syfovre, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • inflammation in your eye, which may include symptoms such as:
    • blurry vision
    • sensitivity to light
    • eye pain or redness
    • eye floaters
  • temporary increased pressure inside your eye after receiving Syfovre, which may include symptoms such as:
    • eye pain, irritation, or redness
    • headache
    • blurry vision
  • detached retina (separation of the retina from the back of the eye), which may include symptoms such as:
    • increase in eye floaters
    • sudden, brief flashes of light in your peripheral vision (sight outside of your central vision)
    • darkening that appears to spread across your vision
  • wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which may include symptoms such as:
    • sensitivity to light
    • trouble seeing fine details or colors
    • dark spots in your center of vision
    • straight lines appearing as wavy
  • retinal vascular occlusion (blockage of veins in the retina), which may include symptoms such as:
    • a sudden decrease or loss of vision
    • eye floaters
  • retinal vasculitis*
  • endophthalmitis*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Syfovre can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Syfovre, your doctor will recommend taking a different medication instead.

Syfovre may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do the side effects of Syfovre compare with those seen with Izervay?

Syfovre and Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) are both medications injected into the eye to treat geographic atrophy caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in adults. They have many similar side effects and a few different ones.

Mild side effects

These lists contain examples of mild side effects that can occur with Syfovre, with Izervay, or with both drugs (when taken individually).

  • Syfovre:
    • clouding of the lens of your eye
    • feeling as if something is in your eye
  • Izervay:
    • blurred vision
    • blepharitis (inflammation around your eyelashes)
  • Syfovre and Izervay:
    • eye pain
    • eye bleeding
    • eye floaters

Serious side effects

Below are some examples of serious side effects that can occur with Syfovre or Syfovre and Izervay.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about the side effects of Syfovre or Izervay.

Can Syfovre cause long-term side effects?

Yes, it’s possible. Long-term side effects are those that start at any time while using the drug or those that may not go away even after stopping the medication.

Long-term side effects can include:

Although these side effects aren’t common, they are serious and can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. If you have any symptoms, such as changes in vision, severe eye pain, or sensitivity to light, see your doctor right away.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Syfovre may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Syfovre.

Retinal vasculitis

Retinal vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the retina. It’s a rare but serious side effect reported in clinical studies of Syfovre. This inflammation blocks blood flow to the retina and can lead to permanent blindness. Symptoms of retinal vasculitis may include:

  • a decrease in or loss of vision
  • a dark or blind spot in your vision
  • eye floaters
  • changes in your color vision
  • straight lines appearing wavy or crooked

What you can do

If you experience symptoms of retinal vasculitis, see your doctor right away. It’s important to get treatment quickly to prevent permanent eye damage or vision loss.

Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis is infection and inflammation that affects tissues in the eye. It has been reported in clinical studies in people who received Syfovre. This wasn’t a common side effect of the drug.

Endophthalmitis can cause severe inflammation that requires immediate medical treatment. Symptoms of endophthalmitis may include:

  • yellow or white discharge from your eye
  • swelling or redness
  • sensitivity to light
  • eye pain
  • blurry vision that is associated with intravitreal injections (which is how Syfovre is given)

What you can do

It’s important that Syfovre be given under sterile conditions to help prevent endophthalmitis. Your doctor will use an aseptic eye solution to reduce bacteria and infection risk before your injection. Following your doctor’s instructions for eye care after your injection will also help prevent infection.

If you develop symptoms of endophthalmitis during treatment with Syfovre, see your doctor immediately. Endophthalmitis must be treated immediately to avoid permanent vision loss or blindness.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Syfovre.

Other precautions

Before taking Syfovre, discuss your health history with your doctor. Syfovre may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • active eye inflammation or infection
  • increased pressure in your eye
  • previous allergic reaction to Syfovre or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.