Plain-English translation of NCT04545736 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.
This trial is testing metformin, an oral medication commonly used to treat diabetes, to see if it might slow the vision loss caused by ABCA4 retinopathy—an inherited eye disease where the retina gradually deteriorates. The medication may help by clearing harmful buildup in the eye's light-sensing cells. Researchers want to understand whether this treatment is safe and whether it can genuinely slow down the disease progression.
ABCA4 retinopathy causes progressive vision loss because harmful fatty material accumulates in the retina's support cells. This medication works by helping those cells clear out this buildup more efficiently, which could potentially slow the damage—but this hasn't been proven yet in a clinical trial.
You would take metformin tablets by mouth daily for 24 months while the research team monitors how your eye disease progresses. Before starting the medication, you'll have a baseline visit with eye exams and imaging (like OCT scans) to establish your starting point. Throughout the study, you'll have regular follow-up visits—roughly every few months—where doctors will repeat these eye measurements to track any changes in your vision and retinal health, and assess whether the medication is working and safe.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Oct 5, 2026 · Not medical advice
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