A Safety and Efficacy Study of Carbidopa-levodopa in Patients With Macular Degeneration

April 3, 2019 updated by: Snyder, Robert W., M.D., Ph.D., P.C.

Pilot Study of L-DOPA Safety and Tolerability in Patients With AMD, and Proof of Concept That L-DOPA Improves Surrogate Biomarkers in Patients With Moderate to Advanced AMD

From 3 large patient databases, patients diagnosed with AMD who have never taken levodopa(L-DOPA) containing medications have a mean age of diagnosis at 71 years. Patients who have been treated with L-DOPA containing medications have a mean age of diagnosis of AMD at 79 years.

L-DOPA binds to GPR143 in the retinal pigment epithelium, and releases PEDF, which protects the retina and downregulates VEGF, which is the cause of neovascularization.

The Investigators will evaluate the safety and tolerability of carbidopa-levodopa in patients with AMD, and measure the effects on surrogate functional biomarkers of AMD.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness, in individuals over the age of 50, in the developed world(1,2). AMD becomes more common as people age, and is more common in lightly pigmented individuals(3). AMD appears more common in patients with Parkinson's Disease, than in those without(4). The AREDS nutritional supplements are effective in slowing the progress of intermediate AMD(5). Most AMD is "dry AMD", which progresses relatively slowly and may impair vision, but usually does not lead to legal blindness. There are two forms of AMD, "wet AMD" and geographic atrophy (GA), that can cause more profound vision loss. In aggregate they occur in about 25% patients with AMD(5). Wet AMD is due to new growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina. The new blood vessels are believed to be due to an excessive release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) cells(6). Wet AMD is now effectively treated with intraocular injections of VEGF inhibitors(2). Geographic Atrophy, the other form of advanced AMD, represents focal death of the RPE cells and overlying neurosensory retina. There is no current treatment for GA. It is suspected that GA is due in part to a localized inflammatory response, damage to RPE cells and loss of RPE cell function(7). It may also be speculated that stimulation of RPE cells to release a potent neurotrophic factor, pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) may slow progression of GA.

In 2008, Dr. Brian McKay identified a receptor, G protein coupled receptor #143(GPR143), on the surface of RPE cells and discovered that L-DOPA was the natural ligand or stimulator of GPR143(8). Dr McKay showed that treatment of RPE cells with exogenous L-DOPA resulted in the release of additional PEDF. In subsequent work Dr McKay's group also showed that L-DOPA stimulation of PEDF in RPE cells was also associated with a decrease in VEGF(9). Thus, Dr McKay hypothesized that exogenous L-DOPA may prevent the onset of AMD or progression to wet AMD.

In 2015, Dr McKay and his associates published a paper that showed that patients, who had been treated with L-DOPA, had a delay in the onset of AMD by 8 years, compared to patients who had not been treated with L-DOPA(10). In addition, those who had AMD and went on to develop wet AMD, did so 5 years later than those with no history of L-DOPA treatment(10). L-DOPA is an intermediate in the pigmentation pathway. Dr McKay and his associates suggested that the reason darkly pigmented races do not get AMD nearly as frequently as lighter pigmented races, is that they produce more pigment, and thus more L-DOPA to stimulate GPR143 on RPE cells. According to this hypothesis, the stimulated RPE cells release PEDF and decrease VEGF, which together are responsible for the protective effect.

Since there are no established animal models for AMD, and L-DOPA has a good safety profile in healthy volunteers and patients with Parkinson's disease(11), the Investigators propose a prospective experiment to determine the safety and tolerability of L-DOPA, in a population of patients with AMD. The participants will be made aware of potential side effects of L-DOPA, which are listed in the Informed Consent, during the consent process. Adverse events will be elicited by questioning the participants at each visit. The participants will also be advised to call the site, if they have any medical problem between visits.

The Investigators will also use this safety study to examine whether L-DOPA has a positive effect on surrogate biomarkers of AMD. The surrogate markers to be evaluated are dark adaptation(12,13), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), low luminance visual acuity(LLVA)(14), and the size and numbers of drusen(15) and reticular pseudodrusen(16). A previous trial, with retinol in 104 patients, significantly improved dark adaptation in 30 days.(17) Therefore, the Investigators expect to see improvement with L-DOPA in a relatively short time. This study will also help the Investigators prepare for a Phase 3 study of L-DOPA in AMD.

Pharmacology of L-DOPA and carbidopa

L-DOPA is formed by 3-hydroxylation of tyrosine by tyrosine-3-monooxygenase (tyrosinase).(18) The primary metabolic pathway of L-DOPA is decarboxylation by amino acid decarboxylase to dopamine, which is responsible for most, but not all, of its pharmacologic effects and toxicity. When carbidopa is administered with L-DOPA, systemic levels of L-DOPA double and central nervous system (CNS) L-DOPA increases from about 1% of the administered dose to about 4%. Levodopa freely passes from the systemic circulation into the retina and brain, but dopamine and carbidopa do not. Adverse events are markedly decreased when carbidopa is administered with L-DOPA, because systemic levels of the toxic metabolite of L-DOPA, dopamine, are markedly reduced. In most patients, 25 mg of carbidopa is sufficient to control side effects of 100 mg of L-DOPA, primarily nausea(18), by 90%. However, some patients require additional supplemental carbidopa. Carbidopa has very limited side effects when given alone(18). Therefore, the Investigators plan to use 35 mg of carbidopa with each 100 mg of levodopa, in order to control adverse events in almost all participants.

L-DOPA is the natural ligand for GPR143 in the RPE cells(8). The Investigators' intent is to increase the L-DOPA available to RPE surface receptors (GPR 143) while minimizing peripheral toxicity. This concept is unique, because all other uses of L-DOPA rely on CNS conversion of L-DOPA to dopamine, in order to produce the desired effect(19).

Treatments:

  1. Carbidopa-levodopa 35-100 mg dosed hs for 45 days, followed by carbidopa-levodopa 35-100 mg dosed in the morning, with supper and hs for 45 days. The second dosing period is the equivalent of a moderate dose of carbidopa-levodopa in patients with Parkinson's disease (maximum daily dose 200-800 mg).
  2. Placebo dosed hs for 45 days, followed by placebo dosed in the morning, with supper and hs for 45 days.

Placebo and active medication will be dosed as capsules, identical in appearance.

Number of participants: Not yet recruiting, stratified by non-study eye being normal, dry AMD or wet AMD and randomized using a table of random numbers. Estimated screen failure rate is 50%. The sample size is based on a successful study treating patients with impaired dark adaptation with retinol, which showed significant improvement in 30 days with 52 patients per study arm.

Duration: 87-114 days (80-100 days of treatment). Visits 1 (screening) and 2(randomization) can be scheduled within 1 week. The first visit after Randomization, Visit 3, will occur 40-50 days after Visit 2. Visit 4 (end of study) will occur 40-50 days after Visit 3. This schedule allows a 10 day window for study visits, for logistic reasons and patient convenience.

Overall trial duration for enrollment and treatment, screening 5 patients per week, will be approximately 10 months.

Primary Endpoint: A statistically significant improvement by carbidopa-levodopa treatment in any of: dark adaptation; BCVA; LLVA; drusen or reticular pseudodrusen measured by spectral domain(SD) optical coherence tomography(OCT)

Measurements:

  1. Demographics at Visit 1;
  2. Medical History and Physical Examination at Visit 1;
  3. Electrocardiogram(ECG), complete blood count(CBC), Chem 20 and HbA1C at Visit 1;
  4. Vital signs at Visits 1,3,4,5 and 6;
  5. Non-directed assessment of adverse events at Visits 1,2, 3 and 4;
  6. Ophthalmic history and comprehensive eye examination, including dark adaptation and SD OCT at Visit 2 (Baseline);
  7. Low luminance questionnaire at visits 2, 3 and 4;
  8. Pill count at Visits 3 and 4;
  9. Re-measurement of dark adaptation, visual acuity under normal and low light conditions and SD OCT at Visits 3 and 4 (End of Study);

Statistics: Analysis of Variance with Independent Variables:

  1. Active Drug vs Placebo;
  2. Logarithm of daily dose of active drug;
  3. Duration of treatment (measurements at Visits 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Phase 2

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
    • Arizona
      • Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85712
        • Robert W Snyder, MD, PhD, PC

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

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  1. Inclusion Criteria:

    • - A diagnosis of intermediate or advanced dry AMD in at least one eye. The other eye may be normal or have any stage of AMD.
    • - If the participant is taking AREDS vitamin supplements, these supplements must be continued for the duration of the study. If the participant is not taking AREDS vitamin supplements, these supplements must not be started during the study.

  2. Exclusion Criteria:

    • - Any previous prescription for L-DOPA or dopamine agonist medications, or any planned use of any of these agents, except for study medication, during the study;
    • - Concurrent use of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors;
    • - With the exception of AMD or cataract or previous cataract operation; any eye condition, disease, history of surgery, or trauma in either eye, which can impair vision;
    • - Neurologic conditions which can impair vision;
    • - Parkinson's Disease;
    • - Dark adaptation rod intercept < 6.5 minutes;
    • - Significant orthostatic hypotension, defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure, immediately upon changing from the supine to standing position, of >19 mmHg, or a symptomatic drop in systolic blood pressure, immediately upon changing from the supine to standing position;
    • - Significant ECG abnormalities, as judged by the Investigator;
    • - Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 ml/min;
    • - Liver enzymes >3 X the upper limit of normal;
    • - HbA1C >9.0;
    • - Any other significant lab abnormalities, as judged by the Investigator.
    • - Women with childbearing potential;
    • -Subjects who are not fluent in English.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg
Treatment with carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg tablets dosed once daily at bedtime for 45 +/- 5 days followed by carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg tablets dosed 3 times daily for 45 +/- 5 days.
Drug: carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg
included in arm description
Placebo Comparator: Placebo for carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg
Treatment with placebo for carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg in identical tablets dosed once daily at bedtime for 45 +/- 5 days followed by placebo for carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg tablets dosed 3 times daily for 45 +/- 5 days.
Drug: placebo for carbidopa-levodopa 25-100 mg
included in arm description

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Treatment Emergent Adverse Events
Time Frame: 90 +- 10 days
Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (AEs) will be assessed at each visit. These will be classified as mild, moderate or severe and by body organ system. All AEs will be specifically reassessed at each subsequent visit. Serious AEs will be reported to the institutional Review Board(IRB). All AEs will be aggregated by treatment arm.
90 +- 10 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Best Corrected Visual Acuity
Time Frame: 45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
After refraction to ascertain that the participant has the optimum correction for refractive error, standard visual acuity testing will be performed with an ETDRS chart. Results will be ascertained at 45 +/-5 and 90 +/- 10 days, due to different dosing during the first and second 45 day periods. Results will be aggregated by treatment arm and treatment period.
45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
Change from Baseline in Low Light Visual Acuity
Time Frame: 45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
Using lenses for optimum correction for refractive error, Standard visual acuity testing will be performed using an ETDRS chart under standardized low light conditions. Results will be ascertained at 45 +/- 5 and 90 +/- 10 days, due to different dosing during the first and second 45 day periods. Results will be aggregated by treatment arm and treatment period.
45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
Change from Baseline in Dark Adaptation
Time Frame: 45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
Using an AdaptDX machine, using standardized intensity and duration of bright light, measurement of the time after bright light exposure required to adapt to dim light will be measured using rod intercept as the measurement. Results will be ascertained at 45 +/- 5 and 90 +/- 10 days, due to different dosing during the first and second 45 day periods. Results will be aggregated by treatment arm and treatment period.
45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
Change from Baseline in Low Luminance Questionnaire Scores
Time Frame: 45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
This will be measured using a standard questionaire evaluating ability to function in low light conditions. Results will be tabulated by all correct answers and by number of correct answers on each subscale. Results will be ascertained at 45 +/- 5 and 90 +/- 10 days, due to different dosing during the first and second 45 day periods. Results will be aggregated by treatment arm and treatment period.
45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
Change from Baseline in Optical Coherence Tomography
Time Frame: 45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days
Evaluating retinal structure, including drusen and reticular pseudodrusen using a standard scanning laser device. Results will be ascertained at 45 +/- 5 and 90 +/- 10 days, due to different dosing during the first and second 45 day periods. Results will be aggregated by treatment arm and treatment period.
45 +/- 5 days and 90 +/- 10 days

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Snyder, Robert W., M.D., Ph.D., P.C.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Robert W Snyder, MD, PhD, Robert W Snyder, MD, PhD, PC
  • Study Director: Timothy C Fagan, MD, Robert W Snyder, MD, PhD, PC

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Anticipated)

September 1, 2019

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2020

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 26, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 16, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

August 19, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 5, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 3, 2019

Last Verified

May 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 0000 (Centre for care Science, KI, Norrbacka Eugeniastiftelsen)

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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