The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry landscape focused on dry age-related macular degeneration encompasses diverse companies ranging from specialized ophthalmology-focused organizations to diversified healthcare corporations, all united by recognition of substantial unmet medical needs, significant commercial opportunities, and potential to meaningfully impact millions of patients suffering progressive vision loss from this debilitating condition. The dry age related macular degeneration amd market key manufacturers include established pharmaceutical leaders with extensive ophthalmology portfolios, innovative biotechnology companies founded specifically to address retinal diseases, and emerging players bringing novel therapeutic modalities or mechanisms to this challenging therapeutic area. Apellis Pharmaceuticals has advanced pegcetacoplan, a C3 complement inhibitor, through pivotal development with regulatory submissions for geographic atrophy treatment, representing potentially the first approved pharmacological therapy specifically indicated for advanced dry AMD if regulatory decisions prove favorable. Astellas Pharmaceutical's acquisition of Iveric Bio brought avacincaptad pegol, a C5 complement inhibitor, into a major pharmaceutical corporation's portfolio, demonstrating strategic commitment to ophthalmology and belief in complement inhibition's therapeutic potential despite mechanistic similarities to competing programs requiring careful differentiation strategies.

Novartis has pursued gene therapy approaches through its Gyroscope Therapeutics acquisition, investigating complement factor I supplementation via subretinal administration of AAV vectors, representing a mechanistically differentiated approach potentially offering sustained complement regulation from a single treatment rather than requiring ongoing chronic therapy. Genentech/Roche has conducted clinical programs investigating lampalizumab, though development was discontinued following disappointing Phase III results, illustrating the technical challenges inherent in dry AMD therapeutic development despite strong scientific rationale and substantial corporate resources. Numerous other companies maintain earlier-stage programs investigating diverse mechanisms including Zimura (avacincaptad pegol), visual cycle modulators, anti-inflammatory agents, neuroprotective compounds, and stem cell-based approaches, creating a rich pipeline that should ultimately yield multiple approved therapies offering clinicians and patients various treatment options differentiated by efficacy profiles, safety characteristics, dosing conveni