The ARCHER study did not show improvement in lesion growth, but still showed an improvement in best corrected visual acuity, potentially opening a pathway toward a pivotal trial.

Rival Iveric may be in the process of being bought by Astellas but that has done nothing to dampen interest in Apellis and its geographic atrophy treatment, Syfovre, which was only launched in March yet reached Q1 sales of over $18m.

Astellas set to acquire private US firm to add to its strategic capabilities in ophthalmology focus area, along with another revenue pillar as it prepares for Xtandi expiry. 

US approval of Apellis's Syfovre has validated the complement approach for treating the advanced stage of age-related macular degeneration but a Munich-headquartered start-up believes its gene therapy will be a more potent and less burdensome alternative.