Intravitreal treatment for geographic atrophy: coming soon to a patient near you?

Phase I DAVIO Trial: EYP-1901 Bioerodible, Sustained-Delivery Vorolanib Insert in Patients With Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose

To evaluate safety and tolerability of EYP-1901, an intravitreal insert containing vorolanib, a pan-VEGF receptor inhibitor packaged in a bioerodible delivery technology (Durasert E™) for sustained delivery, in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) previously treated with anti-VEGF therapy.

Design

Phase I, multicenter, prospective, open-label, dose-escalation trial.

Participants

Patients with wAMD and evidence of prior anti-VEGF therapy response.

Methods

Patients received a single intravitreal injection of EYP-1901.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary objective was to evaluate safety and tolerability of EYP-1901. Secondary objectives assessed biologic activity of EYP-1901 including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield thickness (CST). Exploratory analyses included reduction in anti-VEGF treatment burden and supplemental injection-free rates.

Results

Seventeen patients enrolled in the 440 μg (3 patients), 1030 μg (1 patient), 2060 μg (8 patients), and 3090 μg (5 patients) dose cohorts. No dose-limiting toxicity, ocular serious adverse events (AEs), or systemic AEs related to EYP-1901 were observed. There was no evidence of ocular or systemic toxicity related to vorolanib or the delivery technology. Moderate ocular treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) included reduced visual acuity (2/17) and retinal exudates (3/17). One patient with reduced BCVA had 3 separate reductions of 17, 18, and 16 letters, and another had a single drop of 25 letters. One severe TEAE, neovascular AMD (i.e., worsening/progressive disease activity), was reported in 1 of 17 study eyes but deemed unrelated to treatment. Mean change from baseline in BCVA was -1.8 letters and -5.4 letters at 6 and 12 months. Mean change from baseline in CST was +1.7 μm and +2.4 μm at 6 and 12 months. Reduction in treatment burden was 74% and 71% at 6 and 12 months. Of 16 study eyes, 13, 8, and 5 were injection-free up to 3, 6, and 12 months.

Conclusion

In the DAVIO trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04747197), EYP-1901 had a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated in previously treated eyes with wAMD. Measures of biologic activity remained relatively stable following a single EYP-1901 injection. These preliminary data support ongoing phase II and planned phase III trials to assess efficacy and safety.

Financial Disclosures

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Exploring patient acceptability of emerging intravitreal therapies for geographic atrophy: A mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The acceptability of emerging intravitreal therapies for patients with Geographic Atrophy (GA) is currently unknown. This study therefore aimed to investigate the extent to which regular intravitreal injections may be acceptable to GA patients.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Thirty UK-based individuals with GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), recruited from two London-based hospitals, were interviewed in April-October 2021 regarding acceptability of new GA treatments. Participants responded to a structured questionnaire, as well as open-ended questions in a semi-structured interview. The Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) informed framework analysis of the qualitative data.

RESULTS

Twenty participants (67%) were female, and median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 83 (78, 87) years. 37% of participants had foveal centre-involving GA, and better eye median (IQR) logMAR visual acuity was 0.30 (0.17, 0.58). Data suggested that 18 participants (60% (95% CI: 41-79%)) would accept the treatment, despite awareness of potential drawbacks. Eight participants (27% (95% CI: 10-43%) were ambivalent or undecided about treatment, and four (13%) (95% CI: 0-26%) would be unlikely to accept treatment. Reducing the frequency of injections from monthly to every other month increased the proportion of participants who considered the treatments acceptable. Conversely, factors limiting acceptability clustered around: the limited magnitude of treatment efficacy; concerns about side effects or the increased risk of neovascular AMD; and the logistical burden of regular clinic visits for intravitreal injections. Misunderstandings of potential benefits indicate the need for appropriately-designed patient education tools to support decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests a majority of participants would be positive about intravitreal treatment for GA, in spite of potential burdens.

Towards a Therapy for Geographic Atrophy: A Patient's Experience

PURPOSE

Geographic atrophy (GA) is the advanced form of the non-neovascular (dry) type of age-related macular degeneration. Presently, GA cannot be treated. However, new therapies administered by intravitreal injection are in late-stage development. These can slow down, but do not stop or reverse, GA progression. The acceptability of these emerging therapies to people with GA is currently unknown. The present case study explores the perspectives of a person living with GA who took part in the terminated Phase 3 clinical trial of Lampalizumab, a candidate intravitreal treatment for GA. We explored this patient's perspective on the retrospective acceptability of regular Lampalizumab injections, and the prospective acceptability of future intravitreal therapies for GA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 78-year-old woman living in the UK was recruited as part of a mixed-methods pilot study and interviewed by telephone, regarding: her experience of the Lampalizumab trial injections; and her thoughts regarding emerging intravitreal therapies for GA. The Framework Method was used for initial inductive analysis of the interview transcript. Subsequently, deductive analysis was undertaken, informed by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA).

RESULTS

For this participant, intravitreal injections in the Lampalizumab trial were acceptable, although streamlining processes within the clinic would have improved the patient experience. Regarding prospective acceptability of new intravitreal therapies, the participant considered a delay in progression of GA a valuable goal. Potential discomfort, anxiety and inconvenience associated with regular intravitreal injections would be acceptable in the context of preserving her vision for as long as possible.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of one participant's experience demonstrates the value of exploring GA patients' unique views on the acceptability of new intravitreal treatments. Larger prospective studies will provide more insight that help to optimise treatment design and delivery, thereby maximising likelihood of adherence and persistence when these therapies eventually arrive in clinic.

Treatment and prevention of pathological mitochondrial dysfunction in retinal degeneration and in photoreceptor injury

Pathological deterioration of mitochondrial function is increasingly linked with multiple degenerative illnesses as a mediator of a wide range of neurologic and age-related chronic diseases, including those of genetic origin. Several of these diseases are rare, typically defined in the United States as an illness affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. population, or about one in 1600 individuals. Vision impairment due to mitochondrial dysfunction in the eye is a prominent feature evident in numerous primary mitochondrial diseases and is common to the pathophysiology of many of the familiar ophthalmic disorders, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and retinopathy of prematurity - a collection of syndromes, diseases and disorders with significant unmet medical needs. Focusing on metabolic mitochondrial pathway mechanisms, including the possible roles of cuproptosis and ferroptosis in retinal mitochondrial dysfunction, we shed light on the potential of α-lipoyl-L-carnitine in treating eye diseases. α-Lipoyl-L-carnitine is a bioavailable mitochondria-targeting lipoic acid prodrug that has shown potential in protecting against retinal degeneration and photoreceptor cell loss in ophthalmic indications.