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Sustained-release implant enters phase 2 trial for dry AMD

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LINCOLN, R.I. — A polymer implant that releases ciliary neurotrophic factor into the posterior segment has begun phase 2 testing in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration, the drug’s developer announced.

Neurotech’s NT-501 is an intraocular polymer implant containing human retinal epithelial cells genetically modified to secrete ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), the company said in a press release. The implant is designed to continuously release CNTF for sustained periods of time.

An open-label phase 1 trial of NT-501 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa found that CNTF can be safely delivered into the vitreous of patients with retinitis pigmentosa, the company said. Some patients in that trial also experienced improvement in visual acuity scores.

“The results from the phase 1 trial have encouraged us to study NT-501 in patients with atrophic macular degeneration affecting their central vision,” said Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, of the National Eye Institute. Two additional phase 2 studies of the implant in patients with retinitis pigmentosa are being planned for 2006, according to Neurotech.