Testing a New Implant for Wet Macular Degeneration That Didn't Respond to Current Treatments

Plain-English translation of NCT07005323 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated June 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This is an early-stage trial testing PAL-222, a thin sheet implant designed to help people with wet age-related macular degeneration (a condition that damages central vision) who have not responded well to standard treatment. The implant is placed behind the retina through minimally invasive eye surgery. Researchers want to understand whether this new approach is safe and whether it can help slow vision loss or improve sight in people for whom current therapies have failed.

Wet macular degeneration can cause serious vision loss, and some patients don't improve with the eye injections that normally work. This trial exists to explore whether a different approach—implanting supportive tissue directly into the eye—might help people who have run out of other options.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 50 and 85 years old
you have been diagnosed with wet macular degeneration in one or both eyes
your vision in the treated eye is moderately reduced (between 20 and 60 letters on a vision chart)
you have received at least two rounds of standard eye injections (VEGF inhibitors) with little or no improvement, or your vision has gotten worse
you have specific types of retinal damage visible on imaging, such as fluid buildup or thinning of the retinal layers

You likely don't qualify if…

you have severe pigment epithelial detachment (thickened abnormal tissue) under the central part of your retina
you have hard yellow deposits (exudates) or bleeding in the retina of the treated eye
you have had a serious eye infection or other inflammatory eye disease
you have had eye surgery in the treated eye (except successful cataract surgery more than 3 months ago)
you have very high myopia (extreme nearsightedness) or certain other eye conditions like glaucoma or optic nerve damage

What participation looks like

If you qualify, you would have an outpatient surgical procedure in which doctors implant a thin sheet of tissue behind the retina of your eye using minimally invasive techniques. Before and after the surgery, you would return for follow-up visits so researchers can check your vision, eye pressure, and overall eye health, and watch for any side effects. The trial is designed to carefully track safety and any changes in your eyesight over time.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 3, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Japan

Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube, Ymaguchi