Astellas Pharma US Inc., maker of Izervay (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution), a prescription eye injection used to treat geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), announced a partnership with grandmother and content creator Barbara 'Babs' Costello (@BrunchWithBabs). The goal: to challenge the misconception that vision changes are always a normal part of aging, while raising awareness about the signs, risk factors and treatment of GA.
Babs says she understands how crucial it is to be proactive about eyesight, given her family's history with severe vision loss due to retinal disease, according to the press release. She says her late father had dry AMD, and her sister currently has the disease, which can advance to GA. Babs notes she does not have GA and is not an Izervay patient, Astellas Pharma says in a press release.
According to the company, the partnership aims to highlight the importance of regular eye exams to help get ahead of and detect GA early, and to encourage those diagnosed with GA to discuss their treatment options, including Izervay, with their doctor.
"Eye health is so important—and for many, getting older is seemingly connected with vision loss. That's why I'm so proud to partner with Astellas to raise awareness about GA since it can cause slight changes in vision—or even be unnoticeable—at first," says Costello.
Jake Schumacher, of Astellas Pharma, adds, "We are excited to collaborate with Babs to spread the word about GA, a disease that can progress unpredictably and quickly. Unfortunately, once GA has caused vision loss, it cannot be restored, often limiting a patient's ability to complete routine tasks like reading or even recognizing the faces of family and friends. That's why we are pleased to support efforts that educate and empower individuals to get ahead of GA."
To learn more and hear Babs' story, visit IZERVAY.com or follow @IZERVAY on Instagram or Facebook. OM