Clinical Research Directory

Expanded Access Program for RP in Adults

This intermediate-size patient population expanded access program is to provide access to investigational product OCU400 for up to 75 patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) outside of the ongoing clinical trial Phase 3 program for patients who do not have access to alternative Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved products for treatment of the disease.

A Study of AAV5-hRKp.RPGR for the Treatment of Japanese Participants With X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

The purpose of the study is to assess the safety and tolerability of bilateral subretinal delivery of adeno-associated virus vector with a serotype 5 capsid human rhodopsin kinase promoter. retinitis pigmentosa guanosine triphosphatase regulator (AAV5-hRKp.RPGR).

A Phase 1/2 Study in Healthy Volunteers and Participants With Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa (RHO-adRP)

This integrated Ph1/2 clinical study is to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and efficacy of OCT-980 in healthy volunteers and participants with RHO-adRP.

Cell Collection to Study Eye Diseases

Background: \- Best Vitelliform Dystrophy (Best disease), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration (L-ORD), and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) all affect the retina, the light sensing area at the back of the eye. Doctors cannot safely obtain retinal cells to study these diseases. However, cells collected from hair follicles, skin, saliva, urine, and blood can be used for research. Researchers want to collect cells from people with Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD, and compare their cells with those of healthy volunteers. Objectives: \- To collect hair, skin, saliva, urine, and/or blood samples to study three eye diseases that affect the retina: Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD. Eligibility: * Individuals affected with ocular condition is one year of age or older. * Individuals affected with Best disease, L-ORD, or AMD is 18 years of age or older. * Unaffected individuals are seven years of age or older. Design: * The study requires one visit to the National Eye Institute. * Participants will be screened with a medical and eye disease history. They may also have an eye exam. * Participants will provide a hair sample, saliva sample, urine sample, blood sample, and/or a skin biopsy. The hair will be collected from the back of the head, and the skin will be collected from the inside of the upper arm.

Retinitis Pigmentosa Clinical Measures and Repeatability Testing of Potential Outcome Measures

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of blinding eye diseases. It is caused mostly by mutations in photoreceptor-expressed genes. RP affects about 2 million people globally. There is no cure, but treatment and diagnosis can be guided by certain tests. Researchers want to see how well these tests capture stages of RP. Objectives: To find out how well certain tests track changes in retinitis pigmentosa. Eligibility: People ages 12 and older with RP Healthy volunteers ages 18 and older with no evidence of RP Design: Participants will be screened in another protocol. Participants will have 2 visits about 6 weeks apart. Both will include all the tests below. Each visit will last 5-6 hours, or a visit can be split into 2 days. Participants will give their medical and eye history. Participants will have an eye exam. Their pupils will be dilated with eye drops. Participants will give blood samples. Pictures of participants retinas will be taken. Their retinas will be measured. Participants will take several eye tests. They will: Sit in a dark room and press a button when they see lights. View a bright background then press a button when they see lights. Look into a bowl and press a button when they see lights. Sit in the dark with their eyes patched. Then they will take eye-numbing drops and wear contacts as lights flash. A small electrode taped to their forehead will record signals from their retinas. Minors will give written consent to stay in the study when they turn 18. After the study ends, they may also be asked to give consent for researchers to continue to use their study information.

The Effects of Disulfiram (Antabuse®) on Visual Acuity in Patients With Retinal Degeneration

Oral disulfiram (Antabuse®) has been shown to improve image-forming vision in animal models with retinal degeneration due to its ability to decrease Retinoic Acid synthesis and consequently reduce hyperactivity in the inner retina. The investigator will aim to evaluate the impact of oral disulfiram on the vision of patients with retinal degeneration who are being treated with the drug in the management of their concurrent alcohol use disorder.

Universal Rare Gene Study: A Registry and Natural History Study of Retinal Dystrophies Associated With Rare Disease-Causing Genetic Variants

This is an international, multicenter study with two components: Registry * A standardized genetic screening and a prospective, standardized, cross-sectional clinical data collection * Enrollment is open to all genes on the RD Rare Gene List Natural History Study * A prospective, standardized, longitudinal Natural History Study * Enrollment opens gene-by-gene, based on funding and within-gene Registry enrollment The study objectives are as follows. Registry Objectives 1. Genotype Characterization 2. Cross-Sectional Phenotype Characterization (within gene) 3. Establish a Link to My Retina Tracker Registry (MRTR) 4. Ancillary Exploratory Studies - Pooling of Genes Natural History Study Objectives 1. Natural History (within gene) 2. Structure-Function Relationship (within gene) 3. Risk Factors for Progression (within gene) 4. Ancillary Exploratory Studies - Pooling of Genes

Rod and Cone Mediated Function in Retinal Disease

Background: Retinal diseases cause the loss of rod and cone photoreceptors. Symptoms include vision loss and night blindness. Researchers want to learn about rod and cone function in healthy people and people with retinal disease. They want to know if how well a person sees in the dark can test the severity of retinal disease. Objectives: To find out if how well a person sees in the dark can test the severity of retinal disease. To find out if this can help detect retinal disease and track its changes. Eligibility: People ages 5 and older with: Retinal disease OR 20/20 vision or better with or without correction in at least one eye Design: Participants will be screened with medical and eye history and eye exam. Those with retinal disease will also have: Eye imaging: Drops dilate the eye and pictures are taken of it. Visual field testing: Participants look into a bowl and press a button when they see light. Electroretinogram (ERG): An electrode is taped to the forehead. Participants sit in the dark with their eyes patched for 30 minutes. Then they get numbing drops and contact lenses. Participants watch lights while retina signals are recorded. Visit 1 will be 3-8 hours. Participants will have up to 6 more visits over 6-12 months. Visits include: Eye exam and imaging Time course of dark adaptation: Participants view a background light for 5 minutes then push a button when they see colored light. Dark adapted sensitivity: Participants sit in the dark for 45 minutes. They push a button when they see colored light. For participants with retinal disease, ERG and visual field testing

FIGHT-RP 1 Extension Study

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a devastating eye disease and at present there are no known treatment options that can alter the rate of vision loss and eventual blindness. In a series of studies in animal models, the effects of exposing cones in the periphery of the retina to a large excess of oxygen results in progressive oxidative damage to cone photoreceptors and cone cell death. Cone cell death gradually spreads from the periphery of the retina toward its center, narrowing the visual field and eventually resulting in tunnel vision. Compared to control patients, those with RP showed significant reduction in the reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) in aqueous humor and a significant increase in protein carbonyl content. This demonstration of oxidative stress and oxidative damage in the eyes of patients with RP, suggests that oxidative damage-induced cone cell death in animal models of RP may translate to humans with RP and support the hypotheses that (1) potent antioxidants will promote cone survival and function in patients with RP and (2) aqueous GSH/GSSG ratio and carbonyl content on proteins provide useful biomarkers of disease activity in this patient population. Orally administered N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been found to be a particularly effective antioxidant that promotes prolonged cone survival and maintenance of cone function in a mouse model of RP. Since oral and/or topical administration of NAC is feasible for long-term treatment in humans, and NAC has a good safety profile, there is good rationale to test the effect of NAC in patients with RP. Oxidative damage has been implicated in several diseases including cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The effect of oral NAC has been tested in these indications in several clinical trials providing extensive safety data. In COPD, NAC 600mg bid improves airway function and reduces the frequency of acute exacerbations. Doses of up to 1800mg/day have been well-tolerated in the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) toxicity is treated with a loading dose of 140 mg/kg NAC followed by 70 mg/kg every 4 hours for 17 doses. Normal volunteers tolerated a dose of 11.2 grams NAC/day for three months without any serious undesirable effects and in another study a dose of 500mg/kg/day was tolerated. The most frequent adverse events associated with the oral administration of NAC are gastrointestinal in nature and include vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, abdominal pain and nausea (incidence rate \>1/1000 to \<1/100). Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic shock and anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction (incidence rate \<1/10,000), dyspnea, bronchospasm (incidence rate \>1/10,000 to \<1/1000), angioedema, tachycardia, urticaria, rash and pruritus (incidence rate \>1/1000 to \<1/100) have been reported less frequently. Finally, reports of headache, tinnitus, pyrexia, blood pressure decreased (incidence rate \>1/1000 to \<1/100), face edema and hemorrhage have also been collected with oral NAC. In the FIGHT-RP 1 Study, the investigators used escalating doses of NAC effervescent tablets (from 600 mg in Cohort 1 to 1800 mg in Cohort 3). The maximum tolerated dose was 1800 mg twice a day which will be continued in this study.

Rate of Progression in EYS Related Retinal Degeneration

The overall goal of this project funded by the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to characterize the natural history of disease progression in patients with EYS mutations in order to accelerate the development of outcome measures for clinical trials.

Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of OCU400 for Retinitis Pigmentosa and Leber Congenital Amaurosis

This is a Phase 1/2 Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of OCU400 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa associated with NR2E3 and RHO mutations and in patients with LCA due to mutation(s) in CEP290 gene (OCU400-101). To document prospective eye pathology in the above subjects Investigators will also conduct a Natural History Study (OCU400-104)i This is a multicenter study, which will be conducted in two phases and will enroll up to a total of 24 subjects in the OCU400-101 and 100 subjects in the OCU400-104 study.

A Phase 3 Study Of OCU400 Gene Therapy for the Treatment Of Retinitis Pigmentosa

This is a Phase 3 study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of OCU400 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) associated with RHO mutations and patients with any other RP associated mutation with a clinical phenotype of RP. This is a multicenter, assessor blinded and randomized study which will enroll 140 subjects. Study has completed enrollment of all 140 subjects.

Safety of a Single, Intravitreal Injection of 6.0M jCell (Famzeretcel) in Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

This study evaluates the safety of a single injection of jCell (famzeretcel) comprising 6.0 million (6.0M) retinal progenitor cells over a six-month study period in a cohort of adult subjects with RP. Additionally, changes in visual function will be evaluated at six months between the active treatment group (6.0M jCell) compared to sham-treated controls.

9-cis Beta-Carotene-Rich Extract of Dunaliella Alga in Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a natural supplement called 9-cis beta-carotene (derived from the Dunaliella alga) can improve vision and retinal function in adults with Retinitis Pigmentosa. The study will also monitor the safety of the food supplement and how it affects levels of Vitamin A-related proteins in the blood. The main questions the study aims to answer are: (1) Does taking the supplement improve light sensitivity in the retina (measured by microperimetry)? (2) Does the supplement improve electrical responses in the eye (ERG) or other visual functions like contrast and color vision? (3) How do blood levels of beta-carotene and Vitamin A change during treatment? Researchers will use a crossover design. This means every participant will receive both the active supplement and a placebo (a "dummy" pill with corn oil) at different times during the study to compare the results. Participants will take two soft-gel capsules twice a day for 3 months, undergo a 6-month "washout" period where no study capsules are taken.Then they will take the opposite capsules (either the supplement or the placebo) for another 3 months. The participants will visit the clinic 4 times over the course of 12 months for eye exams, eye imaging (like OCT), and blood tests. Participants will also receive follow-up phone calls every 6 weeks to check on their progress and health.

Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study II

This study will evaluate the use of autologous bone marrow derived stem cells (BMSC) for the treatment of retinal and optic nerve damage or disease.

A Phase II Study of Intravitreal KIO-301 in Patients With Late-stage Retinitis Pigmentosa

The goal of the study is to investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of up to 3 doses of KIO-301 administered by intravitreal (IVT) injection bilaterally every 6 weeks in patients with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Late-stage RP patients will include those patients with No Light Perception (NLP), or Low Vision (LV).

Safety and Efficacy of ZVS203e in the Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa Caused by RHO Gene Mutation

This trial employs a single-arm, open-label seamless Phase I/II design, consisting of two stages: Phase I dose exploration and Phase II dose expansion.The primary objective of this trial is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of subretinal injection of ZVS203e solution.

Oral N-acetylcysteine for Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal degeneration caused by one of several mistakes in the genetic code. Such mistakes are called mutations. The mutations cause degeneration of rod photoreceptors which are responsible for vision in dim illumination resulting in night blindness. After rod photoreceptors are eliminated, gradual degeneration of cone photoreceptors occurs resulting in gradual constriction of side vision that eventually causes tunnel vision. Oxidative stress contributes to cone degeneration. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces oxidative stress and in animal models of RP it slowed cone degeneration. In a phase I clinical trial in patients with RP, NAC taken by month for 6 months caused some small improvements in two different vision tests suggesting that long-term administration of NAC might slow cone degeneration in RP. NAC Attack is a clinical trial being conducted at many institutions in the US, Canada, and Europe designed to determine if taking NAC for several years provides benefit in patients with RP.

A First-in-human, Proof of Concept Study of CPK850 in Patients With RLBP1 Retinitis Pigmentosa

The purpose of this first-in-human study is to explore the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of CPK850 as determined by the single ascending dose ranging portion of the study. This study will also evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of CPK850 on improving visual function in patients with decreased visual function from RLBP1 retinitis pigmentosa due to biallelic mutations in the RLBP1 gene.

Retinal Imaging in Patients With Inherited Retinal Degenerations

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the structure and function of the human retina can be studied with high resolution in patients with inherited retinal degenerations using the Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (AOSLO).

Inherited Retinal Degenerative Disease Registry

The My Retina Tracker® Registry is sponsored by the Foundation Fighting Blindness and is for people affected by one of the rare inherited retinal degenerative diseases studied by the Foundation. It is a patient-initiated registry accessible via a secure on-line portal at www.MyRetinaTracker.org. Affected individuals who register are guided to create a profile that captures their perspective on their retinal disease and its progress; family history; genetic testing results; preventive measures; general health and interest in participation in research studies. The participants may also choose to ask their clinician to add clinical measurements and results at each clinical visit. Participants are urged to update the information regularly to create longitudinal records of their disease, from their own perspective, and their clinical progress. The overall goals of the Registry are: to better understand the diversity within the inherited retinal degenerative diseases; to understand the prevalence of the different diseases and gene variants; to assist in the establishment of genotype-phenotype relationships; to help understand the natural history of the diseases; to help accelerate research and development of clinical trials for treatments; and to provide a tool to investigators that can assist with recruitment for research studies and clinical trials.

Promising ROd-cone DYstrophy Gene therapY

This is a two-step, multicenter, Phase I/II study including an open-label dose-escalation phase (Step 1) and a three-arm, controlled, double-masked, randomized extension phase (Step 2), in subjects with advanced RCD due to a mutation in the RHO, PDE6A, or PDE6B gene (Step 1), or in any RCD-causative gene (Step 2).

Adaptive Optics Imaging of Outer Retinal Diseases

The objective of the study is to collect adaptive optics (AO) retinal images from human subjects with outer retinal diseases (diseases of the outer retina including photoreceptor, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), basement membrane or choroidal pathologies) to develop new diagnostic methods, biomarkers, and clinical endpoints.

Natural History Study in Patients With PDE6A-, PDE6B- and RHO-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

The aim of the study is to apply a novel clinical investigation protocol in patients with Phosphodiesterase 6A (PDE6A), PDE6B and Rhodopsin (RHO)-based retinitis pigmentosa. This novel, multimodal clinical examination protocol describes and correlates structural, functional and metabolic aspects during natural disease development. Test-retest variability of new measurements as well as correlations of the structural, functional, and metabolic changes will be defined to be able to define well-suited readouts for safety and efficacy of future treatment developments before they reach the clinical phase.