Journal article

Effect of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor on Retinal Neurodegeneration in Patients with Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: A Randomized Clinical Trial

EY Chew, TE Clemons, GJ Jaffe, CA Johnson, S Farsiu, EM Lad, R Guymer, P Rosenfeld, JP Hubschman, I Constable, H Wiley, LJ Singerman, M Gillies, G Comer, B Blodi, D Eliott, J Yan, A Bird, M Friedlander

Ophthalmology | ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC | Published : 2019

Abstract

Purpose: To test the effects of an encapsulated cell-based delivery of a neuroprotective agent, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), on progression of macular telangiectasia type 2, a neurodegenerative disease with no proven effective therapy. Design: Randomized sham-controlled clinical trial. Participants: Ninety-nine study eyes of 67 eligible participants were enrolled. Methods: Single-masked randomized clinical trial of 24 months’ duration conducted from May 2014 through April 2017 in 11 clinical centers of retinal specialists in the United States and Australia. Participants were randomized 1:1 to surgical implantation of intravitreal sustained delivery of human CNTF versus a sham procedur..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by National Eye Institute


Funding Acknowledgements

Supported by the Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California; and Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cumberland, Rhode Island, which provided the Neurotech-501 implants producing ciliary neurotropic factor (CNTF). The funding organization (Lowy Medical Research Institute) and the sponsor (Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc) were consulted for design and conduct of the study. The collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication were the responsibilities of the research team, the MacTel Project investigators.