New eye drug trial focuses on black, hispanic, and native american patients
NCT ID NCT05224102
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 26, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study tests a drug called faricimab (VABYSMO) in 218 people with diabetic macular edema who have not been treated before. The participants are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or Asian Indian. The goal is to see if the drug improves vision and is safe over 56 weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Faricimab (VABYSMO) eye injection
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show that faricimab is safe and effective for diabetic macular edema in groups often left out of research, potentially improving vision for many.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-arm, open-label study with no comparison group, so results may be less reliable. It is also limited to specific populations, so findings may not apply to everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 218 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2022
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Main Phase General Inclusion Criteria: * Self-identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino American, or Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; or self-identify as Asian Indian residents of the Indian subcontinent * Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and/or American Diabetes Association, and current regular use of insulin or other injectable drugs (e.g., dulaglutide and liraglutide) and/or oral anti-hyperglycemic agents for the treatment of diabetes * Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≤10% (Note: up to 20% of participants enrolled may have HbA1c up to 12%) * For women of childbearing potential: Agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use acceptable contraception methods as defined in the protocol Main Phase Ocular Inclusion Criteria for Study Eye: * Intravitreal (IVT) treatment-naïve in the study eye (i.e., have not received previous treatment with any anti-VEGF IVT or any corticosteroids periocular or IVT in the study eye) * Diabetic macular edema, defined as macular thickening by SD-OCT involving the center of the macula * BCVA letter score of 73 to 20 letters (both inclusive) using the ETDRS protocol at the initial testing distance of 4 meters at the baseline visit (Day 1) * Clear ocular media and adequate pupillary dilation to allow acquisition of good quality retinal images to confirm diagnosis Long-Term Extension (LTE) Inclusion Criteria: * Enrollment in and completion of the main study, without discontinuation from study or study drug treatment * Signed LTE-phase Informed Consent Form * Ability to comply with the study protocol, in the investigator's judgment * For women of childbearing potential: Agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use acceptable contraception methods as defined in the protocol Exclusion Criteria: Main Phase General Exclusion Criteria: * Diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) that is currently medically untreated * Previously untreated diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) who started on oral or injectable anti-diabetic medication within 3 months prior to Day 1 * Any known hypersensitivity to any of the components in the faricimab injection * Any known hypersensitivity to any contrast media (e.g., fluorescein), dilating eye drops, disinfectants (e.g., iodine), or any of the anesthetics and antimicrobial preparations used by the patient during the study * History of other diseases, other non-diabetic metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or historical or current clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a condition that contraindicates the use of the faricimab or that might affect interpretation of the results of the study or renders the patient at high-risk for treatment complications, in the opinion of the investigator * Active cancer within the past 12 months prior to Day 1 except for appropriately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, and prostate cancer with a Gleason score of ≤6 and a stable prostate-specific antigen for \>12 months * Stroke (cerebral vascular accident) or myocardial infarction within 12 months prior to Day 1 * Any febrile illness within 1 week prior to Day 1 * Pregnant or breastfeeding, or intending to become pregnant during the study or within 3 months after the final dose of faricimab * Uncontrolled blood pressure, defined as systolic \>180 mmHg and/or diastolic \>100 mmHg (while patient is at rest in a sitting position); if a patient's initial reading exceeds these values, a second reading may be taken ≥30 minutes later on the same day * Renal failure requiring renal transplant, hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis within 6 months prior to Day 1 or anticipated to require hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis at any time during the study * Any condition resulting in a compromised immune system that is likely to impact the aqueous humor inflammatory biomarkers * Participation in an investigational trial that involves treatment with any drug or device (with the exception of vitamins or minerals) within 3 months (or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) prior to Day 1, or during the course of this study * Substance abuse occurring within 12 months prior to screening, in the investigator's judgment * Use of systemic immunomodulatory treatments (e.g., IL-6 inhibitors) within 6 months or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Day 1 * Use of any systemic corticosteroids within 1 month prior to Day 1 * Systemic treatment for suspected or active systemic infection * Any prior or concomitant systemic anti-VEGF treatment within 6 months or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Day 1 * Use of systemic medications known to be toxic to the lens, retina, or optic nerve (e.g., deferoxamine, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, tamoxifen, phenothiazines, or ethambutol) during the 6-months (or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) prior to Day 1 * Receiving any treatment that leads to immunosuppression within 6 months (or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) prior to Day 1 * Requiring continuous use of any medications or treatments listed as prohibited therapy Main Phase Ocular Exclusion Criteria for Study Eye: * High-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in the study eye, using any of the following established criteria for high-risk PDR: Any vitreous or pre-retinal hemorrhage; Neovascularization elsewhere ≥1/2 disc area within an area equivalent to the mydriatic ETDRS 7 or 4 fields on clinical examination or on CFPs; Neovascularization at disc ≥1/3 disc area on clinical examination * Tractional retinal detachment, pre-retinal fibrosis, vitreomacular traction, or epiretinal membrane involving the fovea or disrupting the macular architecture in the study eye, as evaluated by the central reading center * Any history of or ongoing rubeosis iridis * Any panretinal photocoagulation or macular laser (focal, grid or micropulse) photocoagulation treatment received in the study eye prior Day 1 * Any history of treatment with anti-VEGF or any periocular or IVT corticosteroids in the study eye prior to Day 1 * Any treatment for dry eye disease in the last month prior to Day 1 (e.g., cyclosporine eye drops, lifitegrast eye drops). Lubricating eye drops and ointments are permitted. * Any treatment with anti-inflammatory eye drops (e.g., doxycycline) within 1 month prior to Day 1 * Any intraocular surgery (e.g., cataract surgery) within 3 months prior to Day 1 or any planned surgery during the study * Any glaucoma surgery prior to the screening visit * History of vitreoretinal surgery/pars plana vitrectomy, corneal transplant, or radiotherapy * Uncontrolled glaucoma * Any active or suspected ocular or periocular infections on Day 1 * Any presence of active intraocular inflammation on Day 1 (i.e., Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature \[SUN\] criteria \>0 or National Eye Institute \[NEI\] vitreous haze grading \>0) or any history of intraocular inflammation * Any history of idiopathic, infectious, or noninfectious uveitis * Any current ocular condition or other causes of visual impairment for which, in the opinion of the investigator, visual acuity loss would not improve from resolution of macular edema Main Phase Ocular Exclusion Criteria for Non-Study Eye: * Any history of idiopathic or immune-mediated uveitis * Active ocular inflammation or suspected or active ocular or periocular infection on Day 1 * Currently receiving treatment with brolucizumab or bevacizumab in the non-study eye and is unwilling to switch to a protocol-allowed, non-study eye anti-VEGF treatment during the study * Any previous treatment with Iluvien® or Retisert® (fluocinolone acetonide IVT implant) in the non-study eye * Non-functioning non-study eye, defined as either: BCVA of hand motion or worse; No physical presence of non-study eye (i.e., monocular); or, Legally blind in the patient's relevant jurisdiction Long-Term Extension (LTE) Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or breastfeeding, or intending to become pregnant during the study or within 3 months after the final IVT injection of faricimab * Presence of other ocular diseases that give reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of faricimab, that might affect interpretation of the results of the LTE, or that renders the patient at high risk for treatment complications * Presence of other diseases, metabolic dysfunction, or clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of faricimab and that might affect interpretation of the results of the LTE, or that renders the patient at high risk of treatment complications * History of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic reaction to a biologic agent or known hypersensitivity to any component of the faricimab injections, study treatment procedure, dilating drops, or any of the anesthetic and antimicrobial preparations used by a patient during the LTE phase * Requirement for continuous use of any medications or treatments indicated as prohibited therapy (as defined in the protocol)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Aravind Eye Hospital
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625020, India
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Austin Clinical Research LLC
Austin, Texas, 78750, United States
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Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center
Phoenix, Arizona, 85016, United States
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Black Hills Eye Institute
Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, United States
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Blue Ocean Clinical Research
Clearwater, Florida, 33761-2046, United States
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Charles Retina Institute
Memphis, Tennessee, 38119, United States
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City Eye Hospital
Nairobi, 00202, Kenya
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Emanuelli Research and Development Center LLC
Arecibo, 00613, Puerto Rico
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Emerson Clinical Research Institute LLC
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20011-3010, United States
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Florida Retina Institute
Orlando, Florida, 32806-1101, United States
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Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute
Plantation, Florida, 33324, United States
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Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Los Angeles, California, 90027, United States
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M & J Western Regional Institute of Ophthalmology
Ahmedabad, Rajasthan, 380016, India
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MM Joshi Eye Institute
Hubli, Karnataka, 580021, India
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Md Medical Research
Oxon Hill, Maryland, 20745, United States
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NJ Retina - Teaneck
Teaneck, New Jersey, 07666-1704, United States
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Nairobi Hospital
Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
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PBMA'S H. V. Desai Eye Hospital
Pune, Maharashtra, 411028, India
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Piedmont Eye Center
Lynchburg, Virginia, 24502, United States
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Piedmont Retina Specialists
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103-6970, United States
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Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)
Chandigarh, 160012, India
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Regional Institute of Ophthalmology
Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India
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Retina & Vitreous of Texas
Bellaire, Texas, 77401-3510, United States
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Retina Associates of Cleveland, INC
Beachwood, Ohio, 44122-7340, United States
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Retina Associates of Michigan
Grand Blanc, Michigan, 48439-8301, United States
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Retina Center of Texas
Southlake, Texas, 76092, United States
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Retina Consultants of Nevada
Henderson, Nevada, 89052, United States
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Retina Consultants of Orange County
Fullerton, California, 92835, United States
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Retina Consultants of Texas Westover Hills Retina Center
San Antonio, Texas, 78251, United States
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Retina Macula Specialists of Miami - LeJeune Road Office
Miami, Florida, 33126-5690, United States
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Retinal Consultants Medical Group
Sacramento, California, 95841-2013, United States
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Retinal Diagnostic Center
Campbell, California, 95008, United States
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Sankara Nethralaya
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600006, India
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Scheie Eye Institute
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Sierra Eye Associates
Reno, Nevada, 89502, United States
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Southwest Retina Consultants
Durango, Colorado, 81303, United States
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Strategic Clinical Research Group, LLC
Willow Park, Texas, 76087, United States
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The Retina Center of New Jersey
Bloomfield, New Jersey, 07003-3000, United States
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University Retina and Macula Associates, PC
Oak Forest, Illinois, 60452, United States
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Wagner Kapoor Institute
Norfolk, Virginia, 23502, United States
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Wills Eye Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
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Wilmer Eye Institute Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287-0005, United States
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Win Retina
Arcadia, California, 91006, United States
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