Photodynamic Therapy for PDA in NV AMD

Overview

The purpose of this prospective observational study is to assess the potential clinical effects of adjunctive verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for persistent disease activity among patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV AMD). No specific interventions will occur as part of the study; participating subjects undergoing PDT as part of standard-of-care will be asked to consent to prospective collection of data from their medical records for up to five years from the date of consent, including results from ophthalmologic exams, imaging, and treatments. The primary study outcome will be the percentage of subjects with resolution of persistent disease activity at six months post-PDT treatment. Aside from a small risk of loss of confidentiality, risks associated with this study are no greater than those related to standard of care.

NV AMD remains the leading cause of vision loss among people over 65. Intravitreal injections with drugs that block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major protein mediator of angiogenesis and vascular leakage, have revolutionized treatment of NV AMD. However, less than 40% of treated patients have clinically significant improvement in vision. Further, in spite of continuous monthly anti-VEGF therapy, up to 40-50% of patients demonstrate persistent disease activity (PDA), defined as (1) unresolved intraretinal, subretinal, or sub-retinal pigment epithelium fluid; (2) progressive lesion enlargement and fibrosis; and/or (3) persistent or new hemorrhage, assessed after either loading dose therapy or after sustained treatment with anti-VEGF. Since affected patients are at increased risk for long-term vision loss, PDA remains a vital clinical unmet need. Verteporfin PDT (Visudyne®, Bausch+Lomb) was approved over 10 years ago by the FDA for treatment of NV AMD, prior to the advent of anti-VEGF therapy. As a monotherapy, PDT is much less effective than anti-VEGF therapy in improving vision for NV AMD patients. Furthermore, in general, PDT in combination with anti-VEGF therapy does not offer benefit over anti-VEGF therapy alone, when assessed among previously treatment-naïve NV AMD patients. However, it is unknown whether adjunctive PDT may be effective for the treatment of PDA. The investigators have performed several retrospective studies of PDA and adjunctive PDT among NV AMD patients in the Duke Medical Retina practice. Preliminary results indicate that moderate to severe PDA occurs in over 40% of NV AMD patients, and that adjunctive verteporfin PDT may be effective in improving PDA and vision for affected patients. The present study will assess potential clinical benefits of adjunctive PDT for NV AMD patients with PDA in spite of anti-VEGF therapy in a prospective observational clinical case series.