Ripasudil 0.4% Eye Drops in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2

Conditions: Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss; Fuchs Dystrophy; Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy; Cornea Guttata; Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy

Treatments: Drug: Optive eye drops; Procedure: Descemetorhexis; Drug: Ripasudil eye drops

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03575130

2017-002490-19

Details and patient eligibility

About

The cornea forms our "window to the world". Hence, its transparency is of utmost importance for vision. Corneal endothelium plays a central role in the maintenance of a transparent corneal stroma. It limits stromal fluid uptake from the anterior chamber of the eye through the formation of tight junctions. Simultaneously, fluid is actively transported from corneal stroma into the anterior chamber. This maintains the corneal stroma in a state of relative dehydration, thereby ensuring a constant distance of stromal collagen lamellae to each other, which in turn forms the basis for transparency of this tissue. If however corneal endothelial function is impaired, stromal swelling leads to corneal clouding and loss of vision.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy represents the most common form of corneal dystrophy. It occurs sporadically, however in some cases autosomal dominant inheritance has been described. This condition leads to progressive loss of corneal endothelium (typically around the age of 50-60 years), causing visual impairment due to swelling and opacification of corneal stroma.

Cell culture experiments have been able to show that chemical inhibitors of Rho-Kinase promote corneal endothelial cell proliferation and reduce apoptosis, while topical application in an animal model promoted corneal endothelial wound healing. This has prompted the notion of using topical Rho-kinase-inhibitor treatment to support endothelial cell regeneration in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Since September 2014, Rho-kinase-inhibitor eye drops (ripasudil) are clinically available in Japan for reduction of intraocular pressure in Glaucoma patients. Ripasudil eye drops therefore represent a strong candidate for safe and effective adjunctive treatment in patients with Fuchs corneal endothelial cell dystrophy.

Enrollment: 21 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 95 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Written informed consent obtained from the subject
2. Understanding of study procedures and willingness to abide by all procedures during the course of the study.
3. Age range: 18-70 years
4. Diagnosis of moderate to advanced FECD with central guttae and clinical relevant corneal endothelial cell loss of <1,000 cells/mm2 and clinical indication of surgical intervention (descemetorhexis) with or without accompanying cataract operation
5. Reduced visual acuity, defined as BCVA <20/30
6. Woman of childbearing potential must be using a highly effective method of birth control.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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21 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Glanatec

Experimental group

Treatment:

Drug: Ripasudil eye drops

Procedure: Descemetorhexis

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Procedure: Descemetorhexis

Drug: Optive eye drops