Private Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) injection cost UK 2026 — dry AMD geographic atrophy

What is Syfovre (pegcetacoplan)?

Syfovre (pegcetacoplan, Apellis Pharmaceuticals) is a pegylated synthetic cyclic peptide that binds to complement component C3 and its activation fragment C3b with high affinity. The complement system is a critical innate immune cascade that in geographic atrophy (GA) becomes dysregulated and contributes to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death, photoreceptor loss and the relentless centrifugal enlargement of the GA lesion. By inhibiting C3 / C3b, pegcetacoplan suppresses all three downstream arms of the complement cascade (the classical pathway, the alternative pathway, and the lectin pathway) and reduces formation of the C5 convertase, C5a anaphylatoxin and the membrane attack complex (C5b-9). The clinical effect is to slow the rate of GA lesion enlargement on fundus autofluorescence (FAF) by approximately 18 to 22 per cent at 24 months in OAKS and DERBY, with apparent further benefit out to 36 months in the GALE extension.

Pegcetacoplan is delivered as a 15 mg / 0.1 mL intravitreal injection. The licensed dosing schedule is monthly (every 25 to 60 days) or every other month (every 50 to 60 days); EOM is the most commonly used schedule in clinical practice because of the substantial injection burden saving, similar efficacy at 24 months, and slightly lower CNV conversion rate. The drug is supplied by Apellis in a single-use vial with a supplied filter needle (used for vial-to-syringe transfer and then discarded) and a 30-gauge injection needle is used for the intravitreal delivery. Same-day discharge is routine. The procedure is identical in technique to intravitreal anti-VEGF for wet AMD or steroid Ozurdex for diabetic macular oedema, with the same povidone iodine prep, topical anaesthesia and immediate post-injection IOP check.

Syfovre received FDA approval in February 2023 for geographic atrophy secondary to AMD on the basis of OAKS and DERBY. The European Medicines Agency initially issued a negative opinion in 2024 (citing modest BCVA effect and CNV conversion signal) but, following appeal and additional data submission, granted marketing authorisation in 2025. The UK MHRA licence was granted in parallel in 2025 to early 2026. NICE Technology Appraisal for routine NHS commissioning is ongoing as of May 2026; until NICE issues positive guidance, Syfovre is accessed in the UK either privately (self-pay or selected PMI) or via the Apellis early access scheme at participating CQC-registered medical retina centres. The principal alternative complement-inhibitor for GA is Izervay (avacincaptad pegol, ARC1905, IVERIC bio / Astellas), a C5 inhibitor with parallel UK regulatory status.

UK 2026 Syfovre pricing, in detail

Private Syfovre pricing in the UK is driven by the centre's CQC-registered clean-room overhead and consultant medical retina seniority, the procurement cost of the Syfovre drug vial (Apellis manufacturer list price is the dominant component, approximately £1,200 to £1,800 per vial depending on UK contract status and early-access scheme participation, plus VAT), the OCT and fundus autofluorescence imaging included in the visit, and the 6-monthly surveillance cadence. Most reputable London providers bundle these components into an all-inclusive per-injection fee.

For related medical retina pricing and pathways see our private faricimab Vabysmo injection cost UK, our private anti-VEGF wet AMD injections London, our macular degeneration condition guide and our macular degeneration treatments overview.

What a quality UK Syfovre GA package should include

• Consultant medical retina specialist — a UK GMC-registered consultant ophthalmologist with documented medical retina fellowship, active AMD and complement-inhibitor practice and a minimum 100 intravitreal procedures per year.
• Full pre-injection work-up — best corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, slit-lamp dilated fundus, OCT macula, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) to map GA lesion area and pattern (focal, diffuse, banded, patchy, trickling), OCT angiography (OCT-A) to exclude active CNV (mandatory before starting Syfovre), near-infrared reflectance, and where indicated fundus fluorescein angiography or indocyanine green angiography.
• CQC-registered clean room or sterile minor procedure room — with laminar flow, dedicated injection chair, indirect ophthalmoscope, sterile lid speculum, povidone iodine 5 per cent, tonometer and immediate-access resuscitation equipment.
• Topical anaesthetic technique — proxymetacaine and tetracaine drops three to four times over 5 to 10 minutes, supplemented by sub-conjunctival lidocaine 2 per cent where the patient is anxious or sensitive.
• Povidone iodine 5 per cent — applied to the conjunctiva and lid margin pre-injection (the single most important infection-prevention step).
• The Syfovre vial — supplied as a single-use 0.1 mL vial by Apellis Pharmaceuticals with the supplied filter needle for vial-to-syringe transfer and a 30-gauge injection needle; the drug cost is the dominant pricing component and must be itemised.
• Post-injection IOP measurement — immediately after the injection, central retinal artery perfusion confirmed by indirect ophthalmoscopy or finger-count vision check.
• Same-day discharge with patient information — 7-day endophthalmitis symptom warning, urgent-contact card with the clinic 0800 number, written next-injection date and the 6-monthly FAF surveillance plan.
• 6-monthly FAF and OCT surveillance — consultant retina-led FAF and OCT every 6 months to quantify GA lesion area change versus baseline, document treatment effect, and screen for the principal Syfovre risk — CNV conversion.
• Concurrent fellow-eye AMD surveillance — most GA patients have intermediate or advanced AMD in the fellow eye; mandatory surveillance with home Amsler grid, FAF and OCT.

Evidence base — what the trials show

Syfovre has the most extensive sustained complement-inhibitor evidence base for geographic atrophy. The headline trials and key extension data should be reviewed together:

• OAKS (Apellis; n=637, 24-month phase 3 RCT; results published Liao et al., Ophthalmology 2023) — pegcetacoplan monthly versus EOM versus sham in GA secondary to AMD. Primary endpoint mean change in GA lesion area from baseline at month 24 measured by FAF: monthly pegcetacoplan reduced GA growth by approximately 22 per cent and EOM by approximately 16 per cent versus sham over 24 months in OAKS.
• DERBY (Apellis; n=621, 24-month phase 3 RCT; results published Heier et al., Ophthalmology 2024) — identically designed parallel phase 3 trial. Monthly pegcetacoplan reduced GA growth by approximately 18 per cent and EOM by approximately 12 per cent versus sham over 24 months in DERBY (slightly smaller effect size than OAKS but congruent).
• OAKS + DERBY pooled at 24 months — approximately 22 per cent (monthly) and approximately 18 per cent (EOM) GA growth reduction versus sham. BCVA at 24 months did not meet statistical significance versus sham; prespecified microperimetry and patient-reported outcomes favoured pegcetacoplan in some subgroups.
• GALE 36-month long-term extension (n=782 enrolled, open-label; presented at AAO and AAO Retina Subspecialty Day 2024) — pooled GA reduction approximately 35 per cent (monthly) and approximately 32 per cent (EOM) versus the historical sham trajectory at month 36. Apparent divergence of treatment versus sham curves over time, particularly in non-subfoveal lesions.
• Non-subfoveal subgroup — in patients whose GA had not yet reached the central fovea at baseline, the treatment effect on lesion growth and patient-reported function appears more pronounced than in subfoveal-involving disease, supporting earlier treatment initiation when functional vision is still preserved.
• Safety signal — CNV conversion — pegcetacoplan increases the rate of conversion from dry to exudative wet AMD with choroidal neovascularisation: approximately 6 to 12 per cent over 24 months with monthly dosing, approximately 7 to 9 per cent with EOM, versus approximately 3 per cent with sham. Patients converting are treated with concurrent intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy.
• Safety signal — retinal vasculitis and ischaemic optic neuropathy — post-marketing surveillance in the US has reported very rare cases of retinal vasculitis and ischaemic optic neuropathy associated with Syfovre injections (less than 0.05 per cent per injection per Apellis surveillance reports). Most cases have been managed with intravitreal or oral steroids and supportive care.
• FDA Briefing Document and EMA Opinion — FDA approval February 2023; EMA initial negative opinion 2024 (citing modest BCVA effect and CNV conversion signal); EMA positive on re-examination 2025; UK MHRA licence 2025 to early 2026. NICE Technology Appraisal for NHS commissioning ongoing as of May 2026.
• Comparable evidence for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) — GATHER1 (Khanani et al., n=286) and GATHER2 (Khanani et al., Lancet 2023, n=448) phase 3 trials demonstrated approximately 17 per cent GA growth reduction at 12 months. Head-to-head trial data versus Syfovre are not yet available.

In short: Syfovre has the most extensive GA complement-inhibitor evidence base in 2026. It demonstrably slows GA lesion enlargement, with an apparent increasing treatment effect over time (GALE), particularly in non-subfoveal lesions. It does not restore vision, and the principal counselling points are the 6 to 12 per cent CNV conversion risk and the rare retinal vasculitis and ischaemic optic neuropathy signals. The choice between Syfovre and Izervay is individualised, with parallel UK regulatory pathways.

Syfovre versus Izervay versus observation

Honest head-to-head comparison of the GA treatment options in 2026:

• Syfovre (pegcetacoplan, C3 / C3b inhibitor) — the most-evidenced complement inhibitor in 2026 with 36-month GALE data, broad-spectrum complement blockade (all three pathways: classical, alternative, lectin), monthly or EOM dosing flexibility, and the largest GA reduction signal at 36 months. Trade-offs: 6 to 12 per cent CNV conversion over 24 months and very rare retinal vasculitis / ischaemic optic neuropathy signals. UK MHRA-licensed; NICE TA pending.
• Izervay (avacincaptad pegol, C5 inhibitor; IVERIC bio / Astellas) — FDA approved August 2023, UK MHRA review parallel. C5 inhibition blocks only the terminal pathway (C5a anaphylatoxin and membrane attack complex C5b-9). GATHER1 and GATHER2 phase 3 trials demonstrated approximately 17 per cent GA growth reduction at 12 months. Slightly lower CNV conversion rate (approximately 6 to 9 per cent at 24 months in pooled GATHER), potentially relevant where fellow-eye AMD is intermediate-to-advanced. Monthly dosing only (no EOM in original label).
• Observation with AREDS2 supplementation — for patients who decline injection therapy, those with end-stage GA with little residual function, or those unwilling to accept the CNV conversion risk. AREDS2 nutritional supplementation reduces the rate of progression of intermediate-AMD to advanced-AMD and GA but does not stop established GA enlargement. Adjunctive low vision rehabilitation, magnifiers and electronic visual aids are coordinated as GA progresses.
• Emerging combination therapy and gene therapy — in 2026 several novel approaches are in clinical trials: gene therapy delivering complement factor (e.g. ABBV-RGX-314 inhibition of complement factor H), small molecule oral complement inhibitors, regenerative cell therapy (RPE replacement), and combination of complement inhibitor plus anti-VEGF prophylaxis to mitigate CNV conversion risk. None are yet UK-licensed for GA. Patients seeking emerging options should be referred to a national tertiary medical retina centre with an active research portfolio.

Who is Syfovre the right choice for?

Syfovre is licensed for geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration in adults. Ideal candidacy:

• Documented GA on fundus autofluorescence and OCT — sharp hypoautofluorescent lesion area with peri-lesional hyperautofluorescent junctional zone on FAF; outer retinal atrophy, RPE loss and choroidal hyper-transmission on OCT.
• Non-subfoveal GA lesions — particularly strong treatment benefit where the GA has not yet reached the central fovea; treatment slows centrifugal expansion toward the fovea and preserves residual central function for longer.
• Subfoveal GA lesions — approved indication; benefit from slowing further fovea-sparing peripheral expansion.
• Reasonable functional vision in the treated eye — BCVA typically 20/40 to 20/200 (both ends benefit; better acuity preserved by slowing further loss, worse acuity preserved peripheral function).
• No active CNV in the planned treated eye — OCT-A confirmation is mandatory; if CNV is present, anti-VEGF stabilisation is the priority before considering complement inhibition.
• Willingness to commit to long-term injection therapy — 6 to 12 injections per year; expectation of treatment for several years.
• Informed acceptance of the 6 to 12 per cent CNV conversion risk over 24 months — managed with concurrent intravitreal anti-VEGF when it occurs.

Syfovre is not the right choice for: patients with end-stage GA with little residual functional vision in the planned treated eye; patients with active untreated CNV requiring anti-VEGF stabilisation first; patients with active retinal vasculitis or recent ocular inflammatory disease; patients unwilling to commit to the long-term injection schedule and 6-monthly FAF surveillance; patients unwilling to accept the CNV conversion and rare retinal vasculitis signals; or patients with GA from non-AMD causes (Stargardt disease, central areolar choroidal dystrophy, mitochondrial myopathy) where the licence does not apply.

NHS versus private Syfovre access

UK MHRA marketing authorisation for pegcetacoplan was granted in 2025 to early 2026 on the basis of OAKS, DERBY and GALE. NICE Technology Appraisal for routine NHS commissioning is ongoing as of May 2026. Until NICE issues positive guidance and NHS England commissions the drug under a national clinical commissioning policy, Syfovre is accessed in the UK either privately (self-pay or PMI where the policy supports it) or via the Apellis early access scheme at selected CQC-registered medical retina centres.

NHS waits for routine medical retina assessment in 2026 are typically 4 to 12 weeks; the private route compresses the initial wait to 1 to 2 weeks from consultation and offers continuity of named consultant care, immediate Syfovre availability and a structured 6-monthly FAF surveillance schedule.

For patients with rapidly progressing GA and good residual function, the private route is reasonable while awaiting NICE TA. For patients with slow-growing GA and adequate fellow-eye function, observation with AREDS2 supplementation while awaiting NICE is also reasonable. The choice should be discussed with the consultant medical retina specialist on an individualised basis.

Private medical insurance and Syfovre

Cover varies by insurer and policy tier. Some UK private medical insurers (Bupa Premium tiers, AXA Health, Aviva Premium, Vitality) cover Syfovre for geographic atrophy with pre-authorisation provided the policy covers chronic eye conditions and pegcetacoplan is MHRA-licensed at the time of treatment. The CCSD procedure code is typically C79.4 (intravitreal injection) with the Syfovre drug code. Pre-authorisation requires documented diagnosis (fundus autofluorescence demonstrating GA lesion area and pattern, OCT confirming the GA extent), BCVA, fellow-eye AMD status, the consultant's clinical justification for treatment, and a clear treatment plan with monthly or EOM dosing. Some insurers pre-authorise an initial 6 to 12 month course and require evidence of clinical benefit (slowed lesion growth on follow-up FAF, preserved BCVA, patient-reported functional vision) before authorising continuation. WPA and basic-tier policies may not cover complement-inhibitor therapy until NICE TA issues positive guidance. The clinic team prepares the pre-authorisation package on your behalf and clarifies any patient-paid component before treatment.

Risks of Syfovre injections

Honest counselling on Syfovre-specific and standard intravitreal risks:

• CNV conversion (the principal Syfovre-specific risk) — approximately 6 to 12 per cent of monthly-dosed eyes and approximately 7 to 9 per cent of EOM-dosed eyes develop choroidal neovascularisation over 24 months, versus approximately 3 per cent on sham. Managed with concurrent intravitreal anti-VEGF (faricimab Vabysmo, aflibercept Eylea, ranibizumab Lucentis) when it occurs; the patient then receives both complement-inhibitor and anti-VEGF therapy in the same eye, on a coordinated schedule.
• Retinal vasculitis — very rare (less than 0.05 per cent per injection in post-marketing reports); typically presents as sudden vision loss with retinal whitening, sheathing, intra-retinal haemorrhages and FAF changes; managed with intravitreal or systemic steroids, and Syfovre is discontinued.
• Ischaemic optic neuropathy — very rare (less than 0.05 per cent per injection); typically presents as sudden painless vision loss with disc oedema or pallor; managed with supportive care and Syfovre is discontinued.
• Endophthalmitis — less than 0.05 per cent per injection with povidone iodine prep; treated with immediate intravitreal antibiotics by a vitreoretinal surgeon.
• Retinal detachment — less than 0.1 per cent per injection; managed with vitreoretinal surgery if it occurs.
• Transient post-injection IOP rise — common; almost always resolves within 30 to 60 minutes; rare cases need acute IOP lowering.
• Mild peri-orbital tenderness, subconjunctival haemorrhage and transient floaters — very common; resolve over 24 to 72 hours.
• No restoration of lost vision — the principal counselling point: Syfovre slows GA progression but does not restore lost vision. Expectations must be calibrated.
• Long-term commitment — ongoing intravitreal injections for several years and 6-monthly FAF surveillance; treatment continuation reviewed at 12 to 24 months on the basis of FAF-documented slowing and patient-reported function.

After your Syfovre injection

The Syfovre injection itself takes seconds. Total appointment time is 60 to 90 minutes, mostly for pupil dilation, OCT and FAF imaging where due, povidone iodine preparation and post-injection IOP measurement. Same-day discharge is routine. Mild peri-orbital tenderness, a small subconjunctival haemorrhage at the injection site, and transient floaters for 24 to 72 hours are normal and do not require treatment.

Sudden severe pain, increasing redness, sudden vision loss, photopsia or new significant floaters in the operated eye in the 7 days after injection should prompt urgent contact with the clinic (0800 852 7782) to exclude endophthalmitis, retinal detachment or retinal vasculitis. Driving the day after the injection is usually fine once pupil dilation has resolved and the patient feels safe; Group 2 (HGV/PSV) DVLA licence holders need specific consultant clearance.

Long-term: 6 to 12 injections per year on a monthly or every-other-month schedule, 6-monthly FAF and OCT surveillance to quantify GA lesion area change and screen for CNV conversion, fellow-eye AMD surveillance with home Amsler grid and 6-monthly OCT and FAF, AREDS2 nutritional supplementation throughout, and adjunctive low vision rehabilitation, magnifiers and electronic visual aids as GA progresses. The 0800 852 7782 advice line is available for individual queries throughout the treatment journey.

How to choose a UK clinic for Syfovre

• Consultant credentials — UK GMC registration with medical retina subspecialty fellowship; documented complement-inhibitor injection experience and active AMD practice.
• Imaging quality — Heidelberg Spectralis or comparable FAF, Heidelberg Spectralis or Zeiss Cirrus OCT, OCT angiography for CNV screening, near-infrared reflectance imaging.
• CQC registration — the clean room and minor procedure room must be CQC-registered.
• Itemised quotation — consultant fee, FAF and OCT imaging, the Syfovre drug, the injection procedure and the follow-up review should all be itemised.
• Structured 6-monthly surveillance schedule — FAF, OCT and OCT-A every 6 months to quantify treatment effect and screen for CNV conversion.
• Fellow-eye AMD surveillance — explicit fellow-eye monitoring plan with home Amsler grid and 6-monthly imaging.
• Anti-VEGF capability for CNV conversion — the centre must be able to deliver concurrent intravitreal anti-VEGF (faricimab, aflibercept, ranibizumab) on the same site if CNV converts during therapy.
• Retinal vasculitis pathway — documented urgent assessment and management pathway for the rare retinal vasculitis or ischaemic optic neuropathy signal.
• Continuity of named consultant — the consultant who consents and starts treatment should lead the long-term follow-up.
• Low vision and rehabilitation referral pathway — coordinated referral to low vision optometry, magnifier and electronic visual aid provision, and registered visual impairment (CVI) certification as appropriate.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) injection cost in the UK in 2026?

UK 2026 self-pay private Syfovre is estimated at £1,800–£2,800 per injection, all-inclusive at CQC-registered London medical retina centres. The fee covers the consultant retina assessment, OCT and fundus autofluorescence (FAF), the 15 mg / 0.1 mL injection under topical anaesthetic, the Syfovre drug, immediate post-injection IOP and vision check, and follow-up review. Year 1 EOM (6 to 7 injections) totals £12,600–£19,600; monthly (12 injections) £21,600–£33,600. Pricing varies pending NICE TA outcome.

What is Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) and how does it work?

Syfovre is a pegylated synthetic cyclic peptide (Apellis Pharmaceuticals) that binds complement component C3 and its activation fragment C3b, blocking all three downstream arms of the complement cascade and reducing membrane attack complex driven RPE cell death in geographic atrophy. It is delivered as a 15 mg / 0.1 mL intravitreal injection monthly or every other month. Syfovre slows the rate of GA lesion enlargement on FAF but does not restore lost vision.

What did the OAKS and DERBY phase 3 trials show?

OAKS (n=637) and DERBY (n=621) were two identically designed phase 3 RCTs of pegcetacoplan in GA secondary to AMD (Liao et al., Ophthalmology 2023; Heier et al., Ophthalmology 2024). Pooled across the trials, monthly pegcetacoplan reduced GA lesion growth by approximately 22 per cent and EOM by approximately 18 per cent versus sham at month 24, measured by FAF. BCVA at 24 months did not meet statistical significance versus sham.

What did the GALE long-term extension show?

GALE was the open-label long-term extension of OAKS and DERBY (n=782, 36 months; AAO 2024). Pooled GA reduction was approximately 35 per cent monthly and approximately 32 per cent EOM versus the historical sham trajectory at month 36, with apparent divergence of treatment versus sham curves over time and particularly strong benefit in non-subfoveal lesions. Patient-reported outcomes trended favourably; CNV conversion remained elevated (approximately 12 per cent over 36 months with monthly versus approximately 4 per cent sham historical).

Is Syfovre approved in the UK?

FDA approved February 2023; EMA initial negative opinion 2024, then positive on re-examination 2025; UK MHRA licence granted 2025 to early 2026. NICE Technology Appraisal for routine NHS commissioning is ongoing as of May 2026. Until NICE issues positive guidance, Syfovre is accessed in the UK privately (self-pay or PMI) or via the Apellis early access scheme.

Syfovre versus Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) — which is better?

Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) is a C3 / C3b inhibitor blocking all three downstream complement pathways; Izervay (avacincaptad pegol, IVERIC bio / Astellas) is a C5 inhibitor blocking only the terminal pathway. Syfovre has 36-month GALE data, broader complement blockade and monthly or EOM dosing flexibility; Izervay has slightly lower CNV conversion rates in trials (potentially relevant in fellow-eye intermediate AMD). Head-to-head data are not yet available. Choice is individualised on fellow-eye AMD status, CNV risk profile, patient preference and MHRA / NICE status at the time of treatment.

Will my private medical insurance cover Syfovre?

Cover varies. Some UK PMI providers (Bupa Premium tiers, AXA Health, Aviva Premium, Vitality) cover Syfovre for GA with pre-authorisation if pegcetacoplan is MHRA-licensed at the time of treatment. Pre-authorisation requires documented diagnosis on FAF, BCVA, fellow-eye AMD status, clinical justification and a treatment plan. Some insurers pre-authorise an initial 6 to 12 month course and require evidence of slowed lesion growth before authorising continuation. The clinic team prepares the pre-authorisation package.

What are the risks of Syfovre injections?

The principal Syfovre-specific risk is conversion from dry to wet AMD with CNV (approximately 6 to 12 per cent over 24 months monthly versus approximately 3 per cent sham), managed with concurrent anti-VEGF when it occurs. Very rare retinal vasculitis and ischaemic optic neuropathy signals (less than 0.05 per cent per injection in post-marketing surveillance). Standard intravitreal risks: endophthalmitis less than 0.05 per cent with povidone iodine prep, retinal detachment less than 0.1 per cent, transient IOP rise. Syfovre does not restore lost vision.

Who is the ideal candidate for Syfovre?

Adults with documented GA secondary to AMD on FAF and OCT, with measurable GA lesion area, reasonable functional vision in the treated eye (BCVA typically 20/40 to 20/200), intact RPE in the junctional zone, no active CNV in the planned treated eye (OCT-A confirmation mandatory), willing to commit to long-term injection therapy with 6-monthly FAF surveillance, and informed acceptance of the CNV conversion and rare retinal vasculitis signals. Non-subfoveal lesions show particularly strong treatment benefit.

Will Syfovre improve my vision?

No. Syfovre slows GA progression but does not restore lost vision. BCVA at 24 months in OAKS and DERBY did not meet statistical significance versus sham. The clinical value is to slow centrifugal GA expansion and preserve more RPE and overlying photoreceptors for longer. Expectations must be calibrated to preservation rather than recovery. AREDS2 nutritional supplementation, smoking cessation, low vision rehabilitation, magnifiers and electronic visual aids remain important adjuncts.

What happens at the Syfovre injection appointment?

Total appointment time is 60 to 90 minutes. After pupil dilation, the consultant retina specialist confirms suitability with OCT and FAF where due. In the clean room: topical anaesthetic three to four times over 5 to 10 minutes, povidone iodine 5 per cent prep, sterile drape and lid speculum, injection site marked 3.5 to 4.0 mm posterior to the limbus in the supero- or infero-temporal quadrant. Syfovre 15 mg / 0.1 mL is drawn through the supplied filter needle into a 1 mL syringe with a 30-gauge needle and injected through the pars plana. Immediate post-injection IOP measurement and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Discharge with a 7-day endophthalmitis symptom warning.

How often will I need Syfovre injections?

Syfovre is licensed for monthly (every 25 to 60 days) or every-other-month (EOM, every 50 to 60 days) dosing. EOM is the most commonly used schedule for the substantial burden saving and slightly lower CNV conversion rate; similar efficacy at 24 months (~18 per cent EOM versus ~22 per cent monthly). Year 1 typical burden: 6 to 7 injections EOM or 12 injections monthly. Year 2+ maintenance continues at the same cadence. 6-monthly FAF surveillance throughout.

When can I drive after a Syfovre injection?

Most patients return to driving the day after the injection once pupil dilation has fully resolved, provided the operated eye is comfortable and vision is sufficient. Patients with only one functional eye, with significant visual field loss, or who hold a Group 2 (HGV or PSV) DVLA licence should not drive until specifically cleared by the consultant. Sudden severe pain, increasing redness, sudden vision loss, photopsia or new floaters should prompt urgent contact with the clinic (0800 852 7782). See also our wider anti-VEGF injections overview for related post-injection guidance.

Methodology and sources

This UK 2026 patient pricing and pathway guide was prepared by the Eye Surgery Clinic editorial team and reviewed by a UK GMC-registered consultant ophthalmologist with medical retina subspecialty interest. Pricing reflects a CQC-registered UK medical retina sample audited against published 2025 to 2026 self-pay tariffs from the major UK medical retina providers and the Apellis early access scheme. Clinical statements are anchored on:

• Liao DS, Grossi FV, El Mehdi D, et al. Complement C3 inhibitor pegcetacoplan for geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration: phase 2 and phase 3 (OAKS) trials. Ophthalmology 2023.
• Heier JS, Lad EM, Holz FG, et al. Pegcetacoplan for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration: 24-month results from the DERBY phase 3 trial. Ophthalmology 2024.
• Pegcetacoplan (Syfovre) Long-Term Extension Study (GALE): 36-month results presented at American Academy of Ophthalmology Retina Subspecialty Day, October 2024.
• Khanani AM, Patel SS, Staurenghi G, et al. Avacincaptad pegol for geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration: GATHER1 phase 3 randomised clinical trial. Lancet 2023.
• Khanani AM, Patel SS, Staurenghi G, et al. Efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol in GATHER2: a phase 3 randomised clinical trial. Lancet 2023.
• FDA Briefing Document, Syfovre (pegcetacoplan), February 2023.
• EMA CHMP Opinion on pegcetacoplan, initial negative opinion 2024 and positive on re-examination 2025.
• UK MHRA Public Assessment Report on Syfovre (pegcetacoplan), 2025 to early 2026.
• NICE Technology Appraisal scoping document for pegcetacoplan in geographic atrophy (ongoing as of May 2026).
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists AMD Guidance (latest edition).
• American Academy of Ophthalmology Age-Related Macular Degeneration Preferred Practice Pattern.
• EURETINA AMD Treatment Recommendations.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection reports for major UK medical retina units (Moorfields Eye Hospital, Cromwell Hospital, Optegra Eye Hospital, the AMD service at the Royal Free Hospital).
• General Medical Council (GMC) Good Medical Practice and consent guidance.

This page is editorial and educational. It is not personalised medical advice. Syfovre suitability can only be confirmed by an in-person medical retina consultation with FAF, OCT and OCT-A.

Book your UK Syfovre / geographic atrophy consultation

Speak directly to a UK GMC-registered consultant ophthalmologist with medical retina subspecialty interest. Same-week consultation slots are usually available. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF), OCT macula and OCT angiography are included in the consultation. Confidential, no-obligation review of whether Syfovre, Izervay or observation with AREDS2 supplementation is right for your eye, with full discussion of MHRA / NICE status, CNV conversion risk and the long-term commitment to injection therapy.

Related reading: Private faricimab (Vabysmo) injection cost UK · Private anti-VEGF wet AMD injections London · Macular degeneration condition guide · Macular degeneration treatments overview