Opthea Limited, a developer of novel biologic therapies for the treatment of eye diseases, has randomized and dosed the first patient in the phase 2A dose expansion clinical trial of OPT-302, a novel VEGF-C/D 'Trap' therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).
The phase 2A dose expansion study will enrol ~30 subjects with wet AMD, randomised in a 1:1 ratio to two treatment groups of OPT-302 given as monotherapy or in combination with Lucentis administered by intravitreal injection on a monthly basis for 3 months. Primary analysis data from the Phase 2A study is anticipated by the end of 2016.
This study follows the recent successful completion of a 28 day safety assessment period for the 20 patients enrolled in the phase 1 dose escalation study. In the phase 1 study, OPT-302 administered by intravitreal injection as a monotherapy (2.0 mg) or at three escalating doses (0.3, 1.0 or 2.0 mg) in combination with Lucentis (0.5 mg) was safe and well tolerated at all dose levels in 20 patients with wet AMD who were either treatment naive or previously treated with standard of care.
Additional detailed evaluation of longer term patient outcomes and secondary measures of clinical activity from the patients enrolled in the phase 1 dose escalation study is expected in the 3rd quarter of 2016, when all of the enrolled patients have completed dosing on a monthly basis for 3 months.
The phase 1/2A study is being run under an Investigational New Drug (IND) programme with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 14 sites across the US.
OPT-302 is a soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) or 'Trap' molecule that blocks the activity of two proteins (VEGF-C and VEGF-D) that cause blood vessels to grow and leak. In preclinical models of wet AMD, OPT-302 demonstrates significant activity as a monotherapy and additive activity when used in combination with existing agents that block VEGF-A. OPT-302 is currently being investigated in a Phase 1/2A clinical trial in wet AMD patients as a monotherapy and in combination with ranibizumab (Lucentis). The trial is actively recruiting patients under an FDA approved IND at several US clinical sites. The purpose of the trial is to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics of OPT-302 administered as monthly intravitreal injections for 3 months with and without Lucentis in patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD). The study is being conducted in two parts: Part 1 (Phase 1) comprises an open label, sequential dose escalation and will recruit at least 20 patients and Part 2 (Phase 2A) a randomized dose expansion that will recruit an additional ~30 patients and is aimed at further characterising the safety, pharmacokinetic profile and relationship between dose/PK and clinical activity of OPT-302 (+/- ranibizumab).
Wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration, or wet AMD, is a disease characterised by the loss of vision of the middle of the visual field caused by degeneration of the central portion of the retina (the macula). Abnormal growth of blood vessels below the retina, and the leakage of fluid and protein from the vessels, causes retinal degeneration and leads to severe and rapid loss of vision.
Opthea is a biologics drug developer focusing on ophthalmic disease therapies. It controls exclusive worldwide rights to a significant intellectual property portfolio around Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3.