Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50, affecting the central part of the retina needed for reading and recognizing faces. Wet AMD can now be treated with injections that block abnormal blood vessel growth, while dry AMD has fewer options and accounts for most cases.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing complement inhibitors that may slow geographic atrophy in dry AMD, gene therapies that could deliver long-lasting treatment from a single injection, and new anti-VEGF drugs requiring fewer injections. Researchers are also studying cell replacement therapies using stem cells to rebuild damaged retinal tissue.
Geographic atrophy treatment
Pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol were FDA-approved in 2023 as the first treatments to slow growth of atrophy in dry AMD. Both work by blocking part of the complement system, a branch of immunity that damages retinal cells.
Gene therapy
Several gene therapies aim to deliver anti-VEGF treatment continuously from inside the eye, potentially replacing monthly or bimonthly injections with a single procedure. Early trials show promise but durability remains under study.
Stem cell therapy
Researchers are testing whether stem cell-derived retinal cells can be transplanted to replace damaged tissue in advanced AMD. Early safety studies show the cells can survive and some patients report vision improvement.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on AMD type and stage, visual acuity, lesion characteristics, and prior treatments received.
What types of trials are currently open
- Geographic atrophy trials — Testing drugs that slow the growth of atrophy in dry AMD, often measuring growth rate over one to two years.
- Anti-VEGF trials — Testing newer drugs or longer-acting versions for wet AMD to see if they match current treatments with fewer injections.
- Gene therapy trials — One-time procedures that aim to provide ongoing treatment from inside the eye, potentially eliminating frequent injections.
- Cell replacement trials — Transplanting stem cell-derived retinal cells to restore vision in advanced disease.
- Prevention trials — Testing supplements, diet changes, or medications to prevent early AMD from advancing to late-stage disease.
Recently added Macular Degeneration trials
Share your medical records on retinal light damage treatment
The goal of this retrospective observational study is to evaluate the effectiveness of retrobulbar glucocorticoid injection in patients with retinal photo-injury. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does retrobulbar glucocorticoid injection improve visual outcomes in patients with retinal photo-injury? Does retrobulbar glucocorticoid injection promote recovery of retinal structural and microvascular changes assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)? Patients with retinal photo-injury will be retrospectively identified and grouped according to the treatment they received. Clinical and ophthalmic data collected before treatment and during follow-up for up to 6 months will be reviewed, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photography, spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT), and OCTA. Visual and retinal imaging outcomes will be compared between the two groups to evaluate the potential effectiveness of retrobulbar glucocorticoid treatment.
A Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of RO7965032 in Participants With Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This study will assess the safety and efficacy of RO7965032 to address a significant unmet medical need in participants with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
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