Anti-VEGF Treatment for Prevention of PDR/DME

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02634333
• Recruitment Status: Active, not recruiting
• First Posted: December 18, 2015
• Results First Posted: November 24, 2021
• Last Update Posted: November 24, 2021
• Sponsor: Jaeb Center for Health Research
• Collaborators: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; National Eye Institute (NEI); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Jaeb Center for Health Research

Tracking Information

• First Submitted Date: December 11, 2015
• First Posted Date: December 18, 2015
• Results First Submitted Date: June 21, 2021
• Results First Posted Date: November 24, 2021
• Last Update Posted Date: November 24, 2021
• Study Start Date: January 2016
• Actual Primary Completion Date: May 2020 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Current Primary Outcome Measures (submitted: October 27, 2021)

Development of PDR and/or DME (Whichever Came First) [ Time Frame: 2 years ]

CI-DME = center-involved diabetic macular edema, PDR = proliferative diabetic macular edema. First development of criteria meeting end point. Eyes that met any criteria are then censored from contributing to the next criteria. Eyes that did not meet the outcome were censored at the time of the last completed visit. Each outcome appears only once under "First PDR and/or DME criteria met." Outcomes appear under "Development of PDR" if PDR developed at any time in the study (regardless of if or when DME developed) and outcomes appear under "Development of DME" if DME developed at any time in the study (regardless of if or when PDR developed)

Original Primary Outcome Measures (submitted: December 15, 2015)

Cumulative probability of any of the following events (i.e. once an eye meets any one of the events, it will be considered to have met the primary outcome): [ Time Frame: 2 years ]

• Development of neovascularization (NV) on fundus photography or fluorescein angiogram
• NV of the iris, definitive NV of the angle, or neovascular glaucoma development on clinical exam
• Other outcomes from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) including: traction retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, pre-retinal hemorrhage greater than ½ disc area
• Procedures for the treatment of PDR: panretinal photocoagulation, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, or vitrectomy
• Center-involved diabetic macular edema on clinical exam with ≥10% increase in central subfield thickness from baseline and either 1) at least 10 letter decrease in visual acuity (VA) from baseline at a single visit or 2) 5 to 9 letter decrease in VA from baseline at 2-consecutive visits at least 21 days apart, from DME
• Non-topical treatment for DME performed without meeting above criteria, including focal or grid laser or intravitreous injections

Current Secondary Outcome Measures (submitted: October 27, 2021)

Change in Visual Acuity From Baseline [ Time Frame: 2 years ]

Visual acuity is measured as a continuous integer letter score from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating better visual acuity. A letter score of 85 is approximately 20/20 and a letter score of 70 is approximately 20/40, the legal unrestricted driving limit in most states. A 5-letter change for an individual is approximately equal to a 1-line change on a vision chart.

• Original Secondary Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Current Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Original Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures: Not Provided

Descriptive Information

• Brief Title: Anti-VEGF Treatment for Prevention of PDR/DME
• Official Title: Intravitreous Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment for Prevention of Vision Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy in Eyes at High Risk

Brief Summary

Multiple studies have implicated vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF as a major causative factor in human eye diseases characterized by neovascularization including proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and vascular permeability including diabetic macular edema (DME). While there is strong evidence that PDR outcomes are markedly reduced in eyes that are treated with monthly anti-VEGF therapy (A Study of Ranibizumab Injection in Subjects With Clinically Significant Macular Edema (ME) With Center Involvement Secondary to Diabetes Mellitus: RIDE/RISE) and moderately reduced in eyes that received fairly frequent dosing during the 1st year of treatment (Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network protocol I), it is unknown whether or not an earlier but less frequent dosing regimen would result in similar, favorable anatomic outcomes, and whether favorable anatomic outcomes subsequently would result in favorable visual acuity outcomes.

If this study demonstrates that intravitreous aflibercept treatment is effective and safe for reducing the onset of PDR or center involved- DME (CI-DME) in eyes that are at high risk for these complications, a new strategy to prevent vision threatening complications of diabetes will be available for patients. The application of intravitreous aflibercept earlier in the course of disease (i.e., at the time when an eye has baseline severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy) could help to reduce future potential treatment burden in patients, at the same time resulting in similar or better long-term visual outcomes, if PDR and DME are prevented.

The primary objectives of this protocol are to 1) determine the efficacy and safety of intravitreous aflibercept injections versus sham injections (observation) for prevention of PDR or CI-DME in eyes at high risk for development of these complications and 2) compare long-term visual outcomes in eyes that receive anti-VEGF therapy early in the course of disease with those that are observed initially, and treated only if high-risk PDR or CI-DME with vision loss develops.

Secondary objectives include:

• Comparing other visual acuity outcomes between treatment groups, such as proportion of eyes with at least 10 or at least 15 letter loss from baseline, or gain or loss of at least 5 letters at the consecutive study visit just before and at the 2- or 4-year visit
• Comparing optical coherence tomography (OCT) outcomes, such as mean change in OCT central subfield thickness and volume from baseline
• Comparing proportion of eyes with at least 2 and 3-step worsening or improvement of diabetic retinopathy severity level (scale for individual eyes) by central reading center from baseline
• Comparing associated treatment and follow-up exam costs between treatment groups
• Comparing safety outcomes between treatment groups

• Detailed Description: Not Provided
• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Phase: Phase 3
• Study Design: Allocation: Randomized; Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment; Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor); Primary Purpose: Prevention

Condition

• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Diabetic Macular Edema

Intervention

• Procedure: Prompt Sham
  A sham injection (syringe without a needle pressed against the injection site) is performed on the day of randomization and visits at 1, 2, and 4 months and then every 4 months thereafter.
• Drug: Prompt aflibercept
  Intravitreal injection of 2.0mg aflibercept is performed on the day of randomization and visits at 1, 2, and 4 months and then every 4 months thereafter.
  Other Names:

  • intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor
  • Eylea
• Procedure: Deferred laser
  Laser (either focal/grid laser for diabetic macular edema or panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy) is added following initiation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections for center-involved diabetic macular edema or proliferative diabetic retinopathy only if certain criteria are met
  Other Names:

  • focal/grid photocoagulation
  • panretinal photocoagulation
• Drug: Deferred aflibercept
  Intravitreal injection of 2.0mg aflibercept performed once proliferative diabetic retinopathy or center-involved diabetic macular edema develops and then up to every 4 weeks using defined treatment criteria.
  Other Names:

  • intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor
  • Eylea

Study Arms

• Sham Comparator: Observation (Prompt Sham)
  Sham injection in study eye at randomization and at visits at 1, 2, and 4 months and then every 4 months thereafter. Deferred aflibercept may be given if center-involved diabetic macular edema or proliferative diabetic retinopathy develops and deferred laser may subsequently be added to intravitreal aflibercept if certain criteria are met.
  Interventions:

  • Procedure: Prompt Sham
  • Procedure: Deferred laser
  • Drug: Deferred aflibercept
• Experimental: Prompt aflibercept
  Aflibercept injection in study eye at randomization and at visits at 1, 2, and 4 months and then every 4 months thereafter. More frequent aflibercept may be given if center-involved diabetic macular edema or proliferative diabetic retinopathy develops and deferred laser may subsequently be added to intravitreal aflibercept if certain criteria are met.
  Interventions:

  • Drug: Prompt aflibercept
  • Procedure: Deferred laser
  • Drug: Deferred aflibercept

• Publications *: Maturi RK, Glassman AR, Josic K, Antoszyk AN, Blodi BA, Jampol LM, Marcus DM, Martin DF, Melia M, Salehi-Had H, Stockdale CR, Punjabi OS, Sun JK; DRCR Retina Network. Effect of Intravitreous Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor vs Sham Treatment for Prevention of Vision-Threatening Complications of Diabetic Retinopathy: The Protocol W Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2021 Jul 1;139(7):701-712. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.0606.

Recruitment Information

• Recruitment Status: Active, not recruiting
• Actual Enrollment (submitted: October 27, 2021): 399
• Original Estimated Enrollment (submitted: December 15, 2015): 322
• Estimated Study Completion Date: May 2022
• Actual Primary Completion Date: May 2020 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age >= 18 years

2. Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2)

   • Any one of the following will be considered to be sufficient evidence that diabetes is present:

   1. Current regular use of insulin for the treatment of diabetes
   2. Current regular use of oral anti-hyperglycemia agents for the treatment of diabetes
   3. Documented diabetes by American Diabetes Association and/or World Health Organization criteria
3. Able and willing to provide informed consent.

Meets all of the following ocular criteria in at least one eye:

1. Best corrected Electronic-Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (E-ETDRS) visual acuity letter score ≥79 (approximate Snellen equivalent 20/25 or better)

2. Severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (based on the 4:2:1 rule) evident on clinical examination and on digital imaging as judged by the investigator. Reading center grading of less than ETDRS level 43 or greater than 53 is an exclusion.

   Severe NPDR is defined as:

   1. All 4 midperipheral quadrants show severe hemorrhages or microaneurysms (at least as great as Standard photograph 2A, approximately 20 dot and blot hemorrhages), or
   2. At least 2 fields of definite venous beading in the midperipheral quadrants or at least 1 field at least as severe as Standard photograph 6A, or
   3. At least 1 field of moderate intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMA) in the midperipheral quadrants, at least as severe as Standard photograph 8A
3. No evidence of neovascularization on clinical exam including active neovascularization of the iris (small iris tufts are not an exclusion) or angle neovascularization (if the angle is assessed).

4. No evidence of neovascularization (NV) on fluorescein angiography within the 7-modified ETDRS fields, confirmed by the central Reading Center prior to randomization.

   • The widest method of imaging available at the site must be used to document whether there is NV present in the periphery; however, presence of NV outside of the 7-modified ETDRS fields on ultrawide field imaging will not be an exclusion provided treatment is not planned.

5. No center-involved diabetic macular edema (CI-DME) on clinical exam and optical coherence tomography (OCT) central subfield thickness must be below the following gender and OCT-machine specific thresholds:

   1. Zeiss Cirrus: 290 µm in women and 305 µm in men
   2. Heidelberg Spectralis: 305 µm in women and 320 µm in men
   3. Investigator and potential participant are comfortable withholding treatment for DME until there is at least a 10% increase in OCT central subfield thickness with confirmed visual acuity loss (10 letter loss at a single visit or 5 to 9 at two consecutive visits).
6. Prompt panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment not required AND investigator and potential participant are willing to wait for development of high-risk characteristics (defined in protocol) to treat PDR.

7. Media clarity, pupillary dilation, and study participant cooperation sufficient to obtain adequate fundus photographs, fluorescein angiogram, and OCT.

   • Investigator must verify accuracy of OCT scan by ensuring it is centered and of adequate quality (including segmentation line placement)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of chronic renal failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplant.
2. A condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study (e.g., unstable medical status including blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and glycemic control).
3. Initiation of intensive insulin treatment (a pump or multiple daily injections) within 4 months prior to randomization or plans to do so in the next 4 months.

4. Participation in an investigational trial that involved treatment within 30 days of randomization with any drug that has not received regulatory approval for the indication being studied.

   • Note: study participants cannot participate in another investigational trial that involves treatment with an investigational drug while participating in the study.

5. Known allergy to any component of the study drug or any drug used in the injection prep (including povidone iodine prep).
6. Known allergy to fluorescein dye.
7. Blood pressure > 180/110 (systolic above 180 or diastolic above 110). • If blood pressure is brought below 180/110 by anti-hypertensive treatment, individual can become eligible.

8. Systemic anti-VEGF or pro-VEGF treatment within 4 months prior to randomization.

   • These drugs should not be used during the study.

9. For women of child-bearing potential: pregnant or lactating or intending to become pregnant within the next 2 years.

   • Women who are potential study participants should be questioned about the potential for pregnancy. Investigator judgment is used to determine when a pregnancy test is needed.

10. Individual is expecting to move out of the area of the clinical center to an area not covered by another Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network certified clinical center during the next 2 years.

Individual has any of the following ocular characteristics in the eye(s) being evaluated:

1. Exam or photographic evidence of vitreous hemorrhage or preretinal hemorrhage presumed to be from PDR.
2. History of prior vitreous hemorrhage or preretinal hemorrhage presumed to be from PDR.
3. History of prior PRP (defined as ≥100 burns outside of the posterior pole).
4. An ocular condition is present (other than diabetic retinopathy) that, in the opinion of the investigator, might alter visual acuity during the course of the study (e.g., retinal vein or artery occlusion, uveitis or other ocular inflammatory disease, vitreomacular traction, etc.).

5. History of DME or diabetic retinopathy treatment with laser or intraocular injections of medication within the prior 12 months and no more than 4 prior intraocular injections at any time in the past.

   • Enrollment will be limited to a maximum of 25% of the planned sample size with any history of treatment for DME and/or diabetic retinopathy. Once this number of eyes has been enrolled, any history of treatment for DME and/or diabetic retinopathy will be an exclusion criterion.

6. History of major ocular surgery (including cataract extraction, scleral buckle, any intraocular surgery, etc.) within prior 4 months or anticipated within the next 6 months following randomization.
7. Any history of vitrectomy.
8. History of yttrium aluminum garnet capsulotomy performed within 2 months prior to randomization.
9. Aphakia.
10. Exam evidence of severe external ocular infection, including conjunctivitis, chalazion, or substantial blepharitis.

11. Evidence of uncontrolled glaucoma.

    • Intraocular pressure must be <30, with no more than one topical glaucoma medication, and no documented glaucomatous field loss for the eye to be eligible.

Sex/Gender

• Sexes Eligible for Study: All

• Ages: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Contacts: Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
• Listed Location Countries: Canada, United States

Administrative Information

• NCT Number: NCT02634333
• Other Study ID Numbers: DRCR.net Protocol W; EY14231 ( Other Grant/Funding Number: National Eye Institute ); EY23207 ( Other Grant/Funding Number: National Eye Institute ); EY18817 ( Other Grant/Funding Number: National Eye Institute )
• Has Data Monitoring Committee: Yes
• U.S. FDA-regulated Product: Not Provided
• IPD Sharing Statement: Not Provided
• Current Responsible Party: Jaeb Center for Health Research
• Original Responsible Party: Same as current
• Current Study Sponsor: Jaeb Center for Health Research
• Original Study Sponsor: Same as current

Collaborators

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• National Eye Institute (NEI)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Investigators

• Study Chair: Jennifer K. Sun, MD, MPH; Joslin Diabetes Center

• PRS Account: Jaeb Center for Health Research
• Verification Date: October 2021