Efficacy Comparison of DExamethasone Intravitreal Implant Combined With Aflibercept Versus Aflibercept Monotherapy in Treatment-naïve Inflammatory Diabetic Macular Edema Patients

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phasePhase 4
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorKun Liu

About this trial

This is a 12-month, prospective, randomized controlled, multi-center, open-label, superiority designed study. Treatment-Naïve DME patient with inflammatory biomarkers, who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, will be recruited.

This study aims to provide the first direct comparative evidence within a Chinese cohort, evaluating the efficacy and safety of a combined DEX-I plus aflibercept therapy versus aflibercept monotherapy for DME. The investigation will focus on functional visual outcomes, anatomical improvements, and the respective safety profiles associated with each treatment regimen. Furthermore, the study will incorporate specific optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers to refine patient selection, with the goal of enhancing the precision of identifying candidates for combination therapy.

It is hypothesized that the combination therapy, by concurrently targeting both VEGF-mediated and inflammatory pathways, may yield superior clinical outcomes compared to monotherapy.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age ≥ 18 years, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type Ⅰor type Ⅱ).

With good glycaemic control and glycated haemoglobin ≤10.0%.

DR stage II-IV.

Treatment with aflibercept intravitreal injection is planned for center-involved diabetic macular edema (CI-DME) , Central macular thickness (CMT) ≥300 μm in the 1-mm-diameter zone around fovea with best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) <20/25.

Disqualifiers

Grade III and IV cataracts, or those with post-comorbid subcapsular cataracts,

Other macular degeneration such as Macular epiretinal membrane and Macular Hole, etc., or macular edema caused by other causes such as uveitis, retinal vein occlusion, etc.,

Combined with diabetic optic neuropathy,

Any prior use of an approved or investigational treatment for DME in the study eye such as anti-VEGF drugs or corticosteroids drugs etc.,

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Combination Therapy with Aflibercept Intravitreous Injection (2mg) and Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant

    Drug

    This group shall receive a combination of Aflibercept Intravitreous Injection (2 mg) and the Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant (DEX-I, 0.7 mg).

  • Aflibercept Intravitreous Injection (2mg) Monotherapy

    Drug

    This group shall be designated to receive Aflibercept Intravitreous Injection at the recommended dose of 2 mg as a standalone treatment. (standard treatment)

Treatment groups

114 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Control Group [Anti-VEGF Monotherapy]Other 1 intervention
Group B: Intervention Group (Combination Therapy with Anti-VEGF and DEX-I)Experimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Change in central macular thickness (CMT) of each group from baseline to the end at Month 6.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 6.

Secondary outcomes

1

Change in central macular thickness (CMT) of each group from baseline to Month 3 and 12.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 3 and 12.
2

Change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of each group from baseline to Month 3, 6, and 12.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 3, 6, and 12.
3

Proportion of eyes with a 10-letter/15-letter BCVA improvement from baseline to month 3, 6, 12.

Time frame
From baseline to month 3, 6, 12.
4

Change in OCT biomarkers (SRD, HRD, HE, large IRC) from baseline to Month 6 and 12.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 6 and 12.

Other outcomes

1

Change in the non-perfused area (NPA) of the peripheral retina from baseline to Month 6, 12.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 6, 12.
2

Changes in macular FAZ area by OCTA from baseline to Months 6 and 12.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 6, 12
3

Changes in macular vessel density by OCTA from baseline to Months 6 and 12.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 6, 12
4

Change in Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (DRSS) score (recording the proportion of patients with regression ≥1 step and ≥2 steps) from baseline to Months 6 and 12.

Time frame
From baseline to Month 6, 12

Locations

This trial has no locations.

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Kun Liu

Lead sponsor

Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Sponsor institution

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University

Collaborator

Peking University People's Hospital

Collaborator

The General Hospital of Central Theater Command

Collaborator

First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University

Collaborator

Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

Collaborator

Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

Collaborator

The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University

Collaborator

West China Hospital

Collaborator

The First People's Hospital of Xuzhou

Collaborator

This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: