Treatment of Advanced Dry Age Related Macular Degeneration With AAVCAGsCD59

March 28, 2025 updated by: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

A Phase 1, Open-Label, Multi-Center, Dose-Escalating, Safety and Tolerability Study of a Single Intravitreal Injection of AAVCAGsCD59 in Patients With Advanced Non-Exudative (Dry) Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Geographic Atrophy

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in individuals over age 60. AMD is classified as wet and dry. Wet AMD constitutes 10 to 15% of all cases of AMD and occurs when an abnormal blood vessel grows in or under the retina leading to central vision loss. Wet AMD is successfully treated with injections in the eye on a monthly basis that stop the blood vessel from growing and leaking. The most common form of AMD is the dry variant or dry AMD that affects 85 to 90% of all patients with AMD. In dry AMD, there is loss of retinal pigment, formation of deposits called drusen, and loss of the vessels in a layer of the retina called the choriocapillaris. In the most severe forms of dry AMD there is loss of retinal tissue called geographic atrophy. Over time retinal tissue degenerates in the area responsible for central vision leading to vision loss leading to legal blindness. Currently no treatment for dry AMD exists so that there is a significant unmet need in patients with this ocular disease.

Recently, evidence has implicated an overactive inflammatory cascade called the complement system as playing a pivotal role in the development of dry AMD. The complement cascade consists of 3 arms that converge to form a pore-like complex on the surface of cells called the membrane attack complex (MAC). Accumulation of MAC on cell surfaces leads to cell damage and death causing the clinical findings seen in AMD. Normal cells within the human body produce a protein on their cell surfaces called CD59 that blocks the MAC from forming. In AMD, the complement cascade is upregulated and leads to more MAC formation than the body can protect itself against leading to cell destruction.

AAVCAGsCD59, an ocular gene therapy product that is injected in to the eye in the physician's office, causes normal retinal cells to increase the expression of a soluble form of CD59 (sCD59). This soluble recombinant version of the naturally occurring CD59 is designed and intended to protect retinal cells that are responsible for central vision by inhibiting the formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), the terminal step of complement-mediated cell lysis. In gene therapy the cells of the retina are potentially permanently altered to make sCD59 for the life of the patient. With gene therapy only one injection is needed for the drug to be effective for the patient's entire life. This study will evaluate the safety after a single injection of AAVCAGsCD59 administered in an office setting for patients whose enrolled eye has advanced dry AMD with geographic atrophy. The initial study is 26 weeks followed by an additional 18-month safety evaluation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
17

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
        • Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men or women 50 years of age or older
  • Advanced dry AMD with GA in the study eye
  • BCVA Snellen equivalent of 20/80 or worse in the study eye using ETDRS charts at a starting distance of 4m after the first 3 patients are enrolled and demonstrate favorable safety data
  • Total GA lesion size 5mm2 (2 DA) to 20mm2 (8 DA) in the study eye; if multifocal, then at least one focus of GA needs to measure 1.27 mm2 (0.5 DA)
  • Fellow eye BCVA of 20/800 or better and must be the eye with the better visual acuity
  • Must be willing to undergo paracentesis of the anterior chamber

Exclusion Criteria:

  • GA secondary to non AMD etiologies
  • Prior or active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the study eye
  • History of conditions in the study eye during screening which might alter visual acuity or interfere with study testing
  • Active uncontrolled glaucoma
  • Intraocular surgery in the study eye within 3 months of enrollment or are known or likely candidate for intraocular surgery (including cataract surgery) in the study eye within 1 year of treatment
  • Acute or chronic infection in the study eye
  • History of inflammation in the study eye or ongoing inflammation in either eye
  • History of uveitis in the study eye
  • Ongoing ocular inflammation in either eye
  • Any contraindication to intravitreal injection
  • Currently using or have used treatment for exudative AMD in the study eye only: laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy (PDT), ranibizumab (Lucentis®), pegaptanib sodium (Macugen®), bevacizumab (Avastin®) or aflibercept (Eylea®)
  • Currently using any periocular (study eye), intravitreal (study eye) or systemic (oral or intravenous) corticosteroids within 3 months prior to screening.

  • Any of the following underlying systemic diseases:

    • Unstable or severe cardiovascular disease, e.g., congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Functional class III or IV), myocardial infarction within 6 months, ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring ongoing treatment, unstable angina, or critical limb ischemia;
    • Poorly controlled diabetes;
    • Clinically significant impaired renal or hepatic function, for example:
    • Cerebrovascular disease within 12 months prior to Screening;
    • Dementia or neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease);
    • Have a malignancy at Screening or a history of malignancy that precludes completion of this 2-year study, including presence of tumor or disease whose treatment may directly affect the ability to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AAVCAGsCD59, or currently undergoing treatment for a specific cancer;
    • Immunocompromised conditions and/or need for immunosuppressive therapy;
  • Any significant poorly controlled illness that would preclude study compliance and follow-up
  • Current or prior use of any medication known to be toxic to the retina or optic nerve including, but not limited, to chloroquine/hydrochloroquine, deferoxamine, phenothiazines and ethambutol
  • Previous treatment with any ocular or systemic gene transfer product
  • Received any investigational product within 120 days prior to screening

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Low Dose
AAVCAGsCD59
Biological: AAVCAGsCD59
AAVCAGsCD59 is administered as a single intravitreal injection in an office setting
Other Names:
  • HMR59
Experimental: Mid Dose
AAVCAGsCD59
Biological: AAVCAGsCD59
AAVCAGsCD59 is administered as a single intravitreal injection in an office setting
Other Names:
  • HMR59
Experimental: High Dose
AAVCAGsCD59
Biological: AAVCAGsCD59
AAVCAGsCD59 is administered as a single intravitreal injection in an office setting
Other Names:
  • HMR59

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of participants experiencing ocular and systemic adverse events as graded by CTCAE v4.0
Time Frame: 26 Weeks
Measure intraocular inflammation, ocular changes and systemic side effects following a single intraocular injection of AAVCAGsCD59
26 Weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluate the change in area of GA in eyes with dry AMD
Time Frame: 26 Weeks
Efficacy of AAVCAGsCD59
26 Weeks
Evaluate the rate of growth of GA in eyes with dry AMD
Time Frame: 26 Weeks
Efficacy of AAVCAGsCD59
26 Weeks
Incidence of conversion of dry AMD to wet AMD
Time Frame: 26 Weeks
Efficacy of AAVCAGsCD59
26 Weeks
Change in drusen volume measured by spectral domain OCT
Time Frame: 26 Weeks
Efficacy of AAVCAGsCD59
26 Weeks
Prevention of loss of 15 or more letters on an ETDRS visual acuity chart
Time Frame: 26 Weeks
Efficacy of AAVCAGsCD59
26 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jeff Heier, MD, Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 29, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 6, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 9, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 2, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 4, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 30, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 28, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • HMR-1001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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