Evaluation of R:GEN as Intervention in Subjects With Early Stages of AMD for Safety and Exploratory Efficacy Outcomes

Evaluation of the R:GEN Laser System as an Intervention in Subjects With Early Stages of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) for Safety and Exploratory Efficacy Outcomes

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and tolerability of the R:GEN Laser System in subjects with the early stages of age-related macular degeneration.

This clinical study is a prospective, single-center, single-arm, open-label, pilot study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the R:GEN Laser System and to collect information on the severity of AMD in subjects with bilateral large drusen. All participants will receive the intervention at the baseline visit and at the 24-week visit. All participants will be evaluated at 24 and 48 weeks from the baseline visit.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults 50 years and over
• Best Corrected Visual Acuity [BCVA] of 6/12 [20/40] or better in each eye
• Bilateral large drusen: at least 1 druse ≥125 µm in each eye within an inner macular zone [a circle with a radius of 1500 µm centered on the fovea], and with or without pigment;
• Ability and willingness to consent, receive laser treatment, and complete all visits

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any evidence of definite reticular pseudo drusen [RPD] > 2-disc areas [DAs] as seen either by fundus autofluorescence [FAF] or near-infrared reflectance [NIR] enface imaging in each eye
• Any evidence of geographic atrophy [GA] within the macula [a circle with a radius of 3000 microns centered on the fovea] excluding peripapillary atrophy
• Any evidence of nascent GA, or worse evidence of atrophy (complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy) as determined by OCT: including the subsidence of the inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer [OPL], or the presence of a hyporeflective wedge-shaped band within the limits of the OPL, and accompanied by attenuation or absence of the RPE and hypertransmission into the choroid
• Current choroidal neovascularization [CNV], (determined on multimodal imaging [MMI], but angiogram not required) or past evidence of CNV, including the presence of non-exudative macular neovascularization [NE-MNV] [determined by OCT-A]
• Asymptomatic sub-retinal fluid [SRF] [a slither < 50 µm allowed]
• Any current ocular disease or condition in the study eye including diseases affecting the optic nerve, the anterior chamber, and autoimmune or systemic inflammatory conditions in which there are ocular manifestations that either are undergoing or require treatment, or history of ocular disease within 3 months of screening
• A central macular serous pigment epithelial detachment greater than 1000 µm in diameter; a central macular drusenoid detachment > 1000 µm with hyper reflective foci [HRF] and hypertransmission; or any central macular drusenoid pigment epithelial detachments >2000 µm
• Previous retinal or ocular surgery within 3 months prior to screening, the effects of which may now or in the future complicate assessment of AMD
• Any history of prior laser treatment to the retina
• Any systemic medication known to be toxic to the retina
• Known hypersensitivity to fluorescein or indocyanine green
• Sensitivity to application of a contact lens
• History or presence of uncontrolled glaucoma, ocular hypertension, or intraocular pressure > 24 mmHg
• Cataract which in the opinion of the investigator limits evaluation of the retina or requires cataract surgery within 12 months
• Pregnant or lactating women
• Subject who is currently in a clinical study, or has received other active investigational therapy, within 30 days of the screening visit
• Subject who is considered ineligible for this study in the investigator's medical judgment