Treatment of Geographic Atrophy with Subconjunctival Sirolimus: Results of a Phase I/II Clinical Trial
04/2013
Journal Article
Authors:
Wong, W.T.;
Dresner, S.;
Forooghian, F.;
Glaser, T.;
Doss, L.;
Zhou, M.;
Cunningham, D.;
Shimel, K.;
Harrington, M.;
Hammel, K.;
Cukras, C.;
Ferris, F.L.;
Chew, E.Y.
Secondary:
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
Volume:
54
Pagination:
2941-2950
URL:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23548622
Keywords:
Aged-80 and over; Female; Geographic Atrophy/drug therapy; Immunosuppressive Agents; Injections; Intraocular; Male; Ophthalmoscopy; Photography; Retina/physiopathology; Retinal Drusen/pathology; sirolimus; Visual Acuity/drug effects
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and effects of subconjunctival sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor and immunosuppressive agent, for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA). METHODS: The study was a single-center, open-label phase II trial, enrolling 11 participants with bilateral GA; eight participants completed 24 months of follow-up. Sirolimus (440 μg) was administered every 3 months as a subconjunctival injection in only one randomly assigned eye in each participant for 24 months. Fellow eyes served as untreated controls. The primary efficacy outcome measure was the change in the total GA area at 24 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in visual acuity, macular sensitivity, central retinal thickness, and total drusen area. RESULTS: The study drug was well tolerated with few symptoms and related adverse events. Study treatment in study eyes was not associated with structural or functional benefits relative to the control fellow eyes. At month 24, mean GA area increased by 54.5% and 39.7% in study and fellow eyes, respectively (P = 0.41), whereas mean visual acuity decreased by 21.0 letters and 3.0 letters in study and fellow eyes, respectively (P = 0.03). Substantial differences in mean changes in drusen area, central retinal thickness, and macular sensitivity were not detected for all analysis time points up to 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated subconjunctival sirolimus was well-tolerated in patients with GA, although no positive anatomic or functional effects were identified. Subconjunctival sirolimus may not be beneficial in the prevention of GA progression, and may potentially be associated with effects detrimental to visual acuity. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00766649.).
