New pill could fight diabetic eye swelling

NCT ID NCT05727891

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This Phase 2 trial tests whether the oral drug tonabersat can reduce retinal swelling in people with diabetic macular edema who still have good vision. About 128 adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes will take either tonabersat or a placebo daily for several months. The main goal is to see if the drug decreases the thickness of the central retina, a key sign of fluid buildup.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Tonabersat (80 mg pill taken once daily)

What this could lead to

If it works, tonabersat could offer a new oral treatment option to reduce retinal swelling in people with diabetic macular edema who still have good vision.

What could go wrong

This is an early Phase 2 trial with only 128 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The primary outcome is a measure of retinal thickness, not vision improvement, and the drug may not show meaningful benefit over placebo.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

diabetic macular edema

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Boston Medical Center Corporation

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States

  • Central Florida Retina Institute

    Lakeland, Florida, 33805, United States

  • East Bay Retina Consultants, Inc.

    Oakland, California, 94609, United States

  • Elman Retina Group

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21237, United States

  • Florida Retina Consultants

    Lakeland, Florida, 33805, United States

  • Hilton Head Retina Institute

    Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29926, United States

  • Illinois Retina Associates

    Oak Park, Illinois, 60304, United States

  • Joseph E. Humble and Raymond Haik PTRS DBA Eye Assoc of Northeast Louisiana

    West Monroe, Louisiana, 71291, United States

  • Joslin Diabetes Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

  • Loma Linda University

    Loma Linda, California, 92354, United States

  • Macula Retina Vitreous Institute

    Torrance, California, 90503, United States

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • Midwest Eye Institute

    Indianapolis, Indiana, 46290, United States

  • National Ophthalmic Research Institute

    Fort Myers, Florida, 33912, United States

  • Pittsburg Clinical Trial Consortium

    Sewickley, Pennsylvania, 15143, United States

  • Retina Associates of Southern California

    Huntington Beach, California, 92647, United States

  • Retina Consultants of Texas, PA

    Bellaire, Texas, 77401, United States

  • Retina Research Institute, LLC

    St Louis, Missouri, 63128, United States

  • Retina-Vitreous Surgeons of Central NY, PC

    Liverpool, New York, 13088, United States

  • Retinal Consultants of Texas

    San Antonio, Texas, 78240, United States

  • Southeast Eye Institute, P.A. dba Eye Associates of Pinellas

    Pinellas Park, Florida, 33782, United States

  • Southeast Retina Center

    Augusta, Georgia, 30909, United States

  • Southern California Desert Retina Consultants, Inc.

    Palm Desert, California, 92211, United States

  • Texas Retina Associates

    Lubbock, Texas, 79424, United States

  • The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • Thomas Eye Group

    Sandy Springs, Georgia, 30328, United States

  • University of Florida- Jacksonville

    Jacksonville, Florida, 32209, United States

  • Verum Research LLC

    Eugene, Oregon, 97401, United States