Dose-ranging evaluation of intravitreal siRNA PF-04523655 for diabetic macular edema (the DEGAS study)

Quan Dong Nguyen, Ronald A. Schachar, Chudy I. Nduaka, Marvin Sperling, Anthony S. Basile, Karen J. Klamerus, Katherine Chi-Burris, Eric Yan, Dario A. Paggiarino, Irit Rosenblatt, Roger Aitchison, Shai S. Erlich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of three doses of PF-04523655, a 19-nucleotide methylated double stranded siRNA targeting the RTP801 gene, for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) compared to focal/grid laser photoco-agulation. Methods. This multicenter, prospective, masked, randomized, active-controlled, phase 2 interventional clinical trial enrolled 184 DME patients with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/40 to 20/320 inclusive in the study eye. Patients were randomly assigned to 0.4-mg, 1-mg, 3-mg PF-04523655 intravitreal injections or laser. The main outcome measure was the change in BCVA from baseline to month 12. Results. All doses of PF-04523655 improved BCVA from baseline through month 12. At month 12, the PF-04523655 3-mg group showed a trend for greater improvement in BCVA from baseline than laser (respectively 5.77 vs. 2.39 letters; P 1/4 0.08; 2-sided α = 0.10). The study was terminated early at month 12 based on predetermined futility criteria for efficacy and discontinuation rates. PF-04523655 was generally safe and well-tolerated, with few adverse events considered treatment-related. By month 12, the discontinuation rates in the PF-04523655 groups were higher than the laser group and were inversely related to dose levels. Conclusions. PF-04523655 showed a dose-related tendency for improvement in BCVA in DME patients. Studies of higher doses are planned to determine the optimal efficacious dose of PF-04523655. PF-04523655 may offer a new mode of therapeutic action in the management of DME.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7666-7674
Number of pages9
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume53
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology
  • Sensory Systems
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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