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
Take eye drops being tested for wet macular degeneration
This phase 2 trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study in patients with wet AMD to assess the efficacy and safety of NT-101 topical ophthalmic solution (0.20 mM) administered into the study eye twice daily (BID) for 12 weeks.
Complete eye imaging scans to study vision loss causes
The purpose of this prospective study is to investigate whether ophthalmic artery stenosis (narrowing of the ophthalmic artery) contributes to the development and progression of geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
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