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80 active trials for Age - Related Macular Degeneration

An Open Label-study to Compare the Efficacy of Aflibercept Monotherapy for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

Polypoidal choroidal neovasculopathy (PCV) is a subtype of wet age related macula degeneration (AMD) occuring more commonly in the Asian population. Besides the phenotypic differences, PCV is thought to have a lesser response to anti VEGF therapy which is the mainstay of treatment for other typical wet AMD. Recent trial data suggest that a combination with photodynamic therapy may help in the visual and anatomical outcome of PCV, and emerging evidence shows favourable outcomes the newer anti VEGF agent, aflibercept 2mg monotherapy. These trials however, have assessed aflibercept in a strict 2mg every 8 weekly regime. In the clinical setting, a significant an unmet need in the management of PCV is a tailored treatment regime. Here we propose a treatment regimen based on disease activity for PCV with aflibercept mono therapy. A limitation of the 2q8 regime is that it is fixed and does not vary regardless of polyp closure or anatomical outcome at the first time point of assessment (month 3). We hypothesize that after the initial 3 monthly injections of aflibercept, about 50% of PCV will close and become quiescent, and in the remaining 50%, a further 3 monthly injections will increase overall polyp closure rate. After a loadings phase of either 3 or 6 months, all eyes will start on a treat and extend regime (T&E), with a minimum period of 8 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks between treatments with 2 week increments if PCV remains quiescent. The proposed study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a modified treat and extend regime based on disease activity with aflibercept monotherapy for PCV.

Start: October 2017
Imaging of the Angiofibrotic Switch in Neovascular AMD

The content of this research project is to identify the angiofibrotic switch, the transition from angiogenesis to fibrosis, in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) longitudinally. Despite optimal treatment about 50% of eyes with nAMD develop fibrosis within 2 years, causing irreversible damage to the retina and functional loss. Objective measurement of fibrosis, however, is challenging, since clinical staging is subjective and current imaging modalities such as color fundus photography (CFP), fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) often do not allow clear delineation. Novel imaging modalities such as polarization-sensitive OCT (PS-OCT), OCT angiography (OCTA) and adaptive-optics OCT (AO-OCT) offer identification of fibrous components and microvasculature of fibrotic lesions non-invasively with highest precision and shall thus be used in this study. Hypotheses: The investigators hypothesize to detect and quantify subclinical (i.e. not detectable on dilated fundus examination) areas of fibrosis using PS-OCT and determine the rate and exact location within the neovascular lesion. Furthermore, the investigators expect neuroretinal and microvascular changes, which will be assessed by AO-OCT and OCTA. Methods: Eighty eyes of 80 patients with chronic nAMD will be included and examined cross- sectionally to evaluate the accuracy of PS-OCT to detect and quantify fibrosis in comparison to gold standard imaging modalities. In addition, OCTA and AO-OCT will be performed to analyze the relationship between fibrous, neovascular and neuroretinal structures. Furthermore, forty eyes of 40 participants with treatment-naïve nAMD will be included and followed over 12 months with predefined follow-up intervals. Novel non-invasive imaging will be applied to objectively determine the exact time and extent of the angiofibrotic switch in nAMD during state-of-the- art therapy. This approach has not been done before and is clinically relevant for multiple reasons: Firstly, only little is known about the development of fibrosis in AMD during therapy. Secondly, the clinical diagnosis of subretinal fibrosis is subjective and does not allow reliable quantification. Thirdly, current gold standard imaging modalities (i.e. CFP and FA) for detection of fibrosis involve invasive and time-consuming procedures and do not allow three-dimensional analysis. Finally, our study may identify objective endpoints for future interventional trials.

Start: May 2019
Multicenter Prospective Cohort of Informal Caregivers in Burgundy and Franche-Comté

Medical progress and modification of lifestyles have prolonged life expectancy, despite the development of chronic diseases. The support and care are often provided by a network of informal caregivers composed of family, friends, and neighbors. They became essential to help maintening the elderly persons to live at home. It has been demonstrated that the importance and the diversity of informal tasks may jeopardize their own physical, mental and social well-being. The aim of the Informal Carers of Elderly Cohort is to define, through a longitudinal study of their life course, the profiles of caregivers of patients with a diagnosis of one of the following diseases: cancer (breast, prostate, colon-rectum), neuro-degenerative diseases (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and similar diseases), neuro-vascular diseases (Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)), Age-related Macular Degeneration(AMD) and heart disease (heart failure), aged ? 60 years old and living in Burgundy or Franche-Comte. By following the different phases of the caregiving relationship from the announcement of the diagnosis, it will be possible to assess the quality of life of caregivers and evaluate the implementation of a pragmatic social action to help informal caregivers through a randomized intervention trial nested in the cohort. Thanks to an analytical and longitudinal definition of the profiles of informal caregivers, this study could gather precise information on their life courses and their health trajectory by identifying the consequences associated with the concept of their role of aid in care. In addition, the randomized intervention trial will explore the efficacy, in terms of quality of life, and efficiency of a social action to support the caregivers. These data will allow to identify strategies that could be used to improve the existing sources of aid and to propose new approaches to help caregivers. This study will provide the opportunity to identify the most relevant means of support and to give an impulse for new healthcare policies.

Start: October 2015