Ciliatech presents clinical trial results from SAFARI III glaucoma study

The clinical trial showed positive outcomes for patients with POAG and PACG. Image Credit: ©sompong_tom – stock.adobe.com

Medical tech company Ciliatech presented one-year clinical trial results at the Ophthalmology Futures Symposium on Thursday. The event was held in Vienna, Austria, which is also the site of the 41st ESCRS annual meeting, 8–12 September. In a news release ahead of the Ophthalmology Futures Symposium, Ciliatech announced team members would present data from a 1-year study of its clinical trial, SAFARI III, involving both open and narrow angle glaucoma patients.¹

According to the news release, the data demonstrate outcomes of Ciliatech's glaucoma implant, the cilioscleral interpositioning device (CID). Results indicate the CID works similarly for patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), also called primary narrow angle glaucoma. Notably, the CID provides treatment without the need to remove the lens. Ciliatech provided further information about the SAFARI III clinical trial, which included patients with POAG and PACG in its cohort (57 patients total).¹ After 12 months, intraocular pressure was reduced by more than 41%. The trial also showed significant outcomes for patient burden. Pharmacological treatments were reduced by more than 92% and 86% of patients reported being medication-free at the 1-year mark.

The news release pointed out the significance of the CID as a viable treatment for both POAG and PACG, the latter of which disproportionately affects certain patient populations.¹ While 15 to 20% of European and US populations suffer from PACG, this form of glaucoma is prevalent in more than 50% of patients of Asian descent. Additionally, most minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) using implants are not compatible for PACG patients.

In its statement, Ciliatech stated that enrolled patients had glaucoma with IOP > 21mmHg, uncontrolled by medications.¹ Operations were performed as a stand-alone procedure and not combined with cataract surgery. “PACG is a real challenge that is underserved by the implants available today. Ciliatech’s CID and cilioscleral surgical approach are angle agnostic, so that the angle of the glaucoma does not matter in performing the surgery,” said Olivier Benoit, CEO of Ciliatech. “OAG and ACG patients can now be treated equally, with the same level of safety and performance, as indicated in our preliminary 12-month SAFARI III outcomes.”

Reference

1. Ciliatech presents preliminary one-year study results on treating open and narrow angle glaucoma with CID at Ophthalmology Futures Symposium. News release. Andrew Lloyd & Associates. Published 7 September, 2023. https://ala.associates/clinical/ciliatech-presents-preliminary-one-year-study-results-on-treating-open-and-narrow-angle-glaucoma-with-cid-at-ophthalmology-futures-symposium/