Health
Astellas and the Internet's Favorite Grandma, Barbara 'Babs' Costello, Partner to Encourage Others to Get Ahead of Geographic Atrophy (GA)
Astellas Pharma US Inc. (TSE: 4503, Head of US Commercial: Michael Petroutsas, "Astellas"), maker of IZERVAY™ (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution), today announced a partnership with beloved grandmother and content creator, Barbara 'Babs' Costello (@BrunchWithBabs), to challenge the misconception that vision changes are simply a normal part of aging, while raising awareness about the signs, risk factors and treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry age-related macular
About this update from Astellas Pharma Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Babs is sharing her family's history with progressive retinal disease ","length":73,"tagName":"p","attribs":{}},{"type":"text","content":"GA, the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a serious condition that may lead to irreversible vision loss1","length":134,"tagName":"p","attribs":{}},{"type":"text","content":"NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma US Inc. (TSE: 4503, Head of US Commercial: Michael Petroutsas, "Astellas"), maker of IZERVAY™ (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution), today announced a partnership with beloved grandmother and content creator, Barbara 'Babs' Costello (@BrunchWithBabs), to challenge the misconception that vision changes are simply a normal part of aging, while raising awareness about the signs, risk factors and treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).","length":585,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Babs understands how crucial it is to be proactive about eyesight given her family's history with severe vision loss due to a progressive retinal disease. Her late father had dry AMD, and her sister currently has the disease, which can advance to GA—a serious condition that causes retinal cell damage and leads to irreversible vision loss. Babs does not have GA and is not an IZERVAY patient.","length":397,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"The partnership aims to highlight the importance of regular eye exams to help get ahead and detect GA early, and to encourage those diagnosed with GA to discuss their treatment options, including IZERVAY, with their doctor.2 IZERVAY is a prescription eye injection, used to treat GA secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration.3 Don't take IZERVAY if you have an infection or active swelling in or around your eye. Please see additional Important Safety Information below.","length":482,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Barbara 'Babs' Costello, Internet's Grandma"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. Going for annual eye appointments and discussing any symptoms with your...