Diabetic retinopathy damages the blood vessels in the retina and is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults. About one-third of people with diabetes develop some form of retinopathy. Current treatment includes laser therapy, anti-VEGF injections into the eye, and careful blood sugar control to slow progression.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing longer-acting anti-VEGF drugs to reduce injection frequency, combination therapies that address inflammation alongside leaky vessels, gene therapy approaches, and drugs delivered as eye implants. Research also focuses on identifying people at highest risk through AI analysis of retinal images and on early interventions before vision loss begins.
Longer-acting anti-VEGF drugs
New formulations aim to extend the time between eye injections from every month or two to three or four months. Several drugs in late-stage trials use different approaches to sustain drug levels in the eye.
Gene therapy
Trials are testing one-time gene therapy that would enable the eye to produce its own anti-VEGF protein. If successful, this could replace the need for repeated injections over years.
Sustained-release implants
Small drug-releasing devices placed in the eye aim to deliver medication continuously for months at a time. These could reduce the treatment burden for people requiring frequent anti-VEGF injections.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on retinopathy severity, whether the center of the retina is affected, visual acuity level, and previous treatments received.
What types of trials are currently open
- Anti-VEGF trials — Testing new drugs that block vascular endothelial growth factor, which drives abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. These trials often compare injection frequency and vision outcomes.
- Combination therapy trials — Testing anti-VEGF drugs combined with steroids or other drugs that target inflammation and fluid buildup.
- Gene therapy trials — Testing one-time treatments that introduce genetic instructions for the eye to produce anti-VEGF protein on its own.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether early treatment in people with mild retinopathy can prevent progression to vision-threatening disease.
- Device and delivery trials — Testing implants, port systems, and new injection techniques to deliver drugs more effectively or reduce treatment burden.
Recently added Diabetic Retinopathy trials
Take a daily pill being tested for diabetic eye swelling
The purpose of this study is to learn about the effects of BGE-102 on change in vision in participants with center-involved diabetic macular edema (CI-DME). BGE-102 decreases inflammation which may improve vision or slow the progression of vison loss in those with CI-DME. Participants will be randomized to one of 3 arms and receive either BGE-102 in combination with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drug, BGE-102 in combination with sham injection, or BGE-102 placebo in combination with an anti-VEGF drug. This study will also evaluate safety and tolerability of BGE-102.
Share retinal photos to help validate an AI eye disease detector
To validate the artificial intelligence subsystem of the DDART medical device for the automated detection of lesions compatible with diabetic retinopathy in a random sample of retinal fundus photographs. Secondary Objectives To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the artificial intelligence subsystem for the detection of diabetic retinopathy. To estimate the overall diagnostic accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). To compare the performance of the algorithm with that of experienced ophthalmologists. To evaluate the ability of the model to distinguish between different stages of disease severity
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