Antioxidant dry AMD eye drop

An antioxidant eye drop (OT-551, Othera) is being investigated to treat geographic atrophy in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The small lipophilic molecule has been shown to penetrate the cornea easily and, in animal models, therapeutic levels were achieved.

OT-551 is converted to TEMPOL-H, an agent developed to treat cataracts, in the eye. The eye drop is distributed rapidly within the eye, and the levels in the retina have been measured for up to 16 hours beginning within 15 minutes after topical administration.

In the Multicenter Evaluation of Geographic Atrophy Phase II, two-year study (a randomized, double-masked, dose-ranging, multicentre trial), the efficacy of the eye drop is being compared with placebo at doses of 0.45% and 0.3% to determine the effect of the eye drops in reducing the area of progression of geographic atrophy following treatment. Patients administer the drug four times daily for two years in one eye. Investigators will evaluate the changes in best-corrected visual acuity and safety.

The first patients were randomly selected in June 2007 and the final patients were randomly selected in March 2008. Twelve-month data are expected in spring 2009.