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NCT Number: NCT07395986

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of ZOC2017217 in Subjects With Age-Related Cataract

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled pilot study conducted in the United States (US) in subjects with age-related cataract in one or both eyes.

Approximately 40 subjects with age-related cataract will be stratified by race and Best Corrected Distance Visual Acuity (BCDVA) and randomized (1:1) to active investigational product (IP) or placebo. Subjects will administer their assigned IP in both eyes, except as noted below, two times a day (BID) for 24 weeks before being exited from the study. Subjects with new or ongoing ocular adverse events (AEs) at the time of planned study exit will be asked to return 2 weeks later for a safety follow-up evaluation.

The study eye will be the qualified eye that meets study eligibility criteria. Data from the study eye will be used for the purposes of efficacy analyses. Both eyes will receive treatment, except in subjects who have previously undergone cataract surgery in the non-study eye or whose non-study eye, in the opinion of the Investigator, is not suitable for treatment with the IP due to safety or another concern.

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Key information

Age range

50 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Cornea and Cataract Consultants of Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Inclusion Criteria:
  • Are ≥50 years of age.
  • Willing and able to provide informed consent and provide relevant privacy authorization(s).
  • Willing and able to comply with study requirements and visit schedule.
  • Able to successfully administer ophthalmic solution or have an appropriate designee (e.g., family member, health care professional) who can administer ophthalmic solution.
  • Have high-contrast BCDVA under photopic conditions ≥35 letters and ≤67 letters at Visit 1 (Screening).
  • Have calculated baseline BCDVA at Visit 2 (Randomization; Baseline; Day 1) that simultaneously meets Randomization Criteria.
  • Have, in the opinion of the Investigator, age-related cataract (cortical, nuclear, posterior, mixed) in one or both eyes, as assessed using digital imaging after adequate mydriasis.

A. C < 5.0 B. N < 5.0 (both nuclear opalescence [NO] and nuclear color [NC]) C. P < 1.0

  • Have, in the opinion of the Investigator, sufficiently clear ocular media and adequate pupillary dilation to permit quality fundus imaging.

Exclusion criteria

  • Ocular Exclusion Criteria:

Study Eye:

  • Have a history of ocular trauma.
  • Have a history of intraocular surgery, laser treatment, or corneal surgery. Note: Corneal refractive surgery more than 2 years prior to Visit 1 (Screening) is allowed.
  • Have, in the opinion of the Investigator, a cataract other than age-related cataract (e.g., traumatic, concurrent, metabolic, drug and toxic, radiation).
  • Have, in the opinion of the Investigator, any ocular disease or condition that is not stably controlled or is likely to affect central vision, including but not limited to:

Glaucoma Elevated IOP (e.g., ≥30 mmHg) Optic neuropathy Age-related macular degeneration Diabetic retinopathy Retinal artery or vein occlusion Macular hole Retinal detachment Epiretinal membrane involving the fovea High myopia (i.e., spherical equivalent of subjective refraction ≥ -7.0 D) High hyperopia (i.e., spherical equivalent of subjective refraction > +4.00 D)

  • Have overall CFS >3.
  • Have active eye infection or inflammation, including but not limited to conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, or endophthalmitis.

Note: Mild inflammation (CFS <3 on the NEI scale) from ocular surface disease, including dry eye disease, is allowed.

Non-study Eye:

  • Have high-contrast BCDVA under photopic conditions ≤19 letters.

Either Eye:

  • Have planned or be planning to undergo cataract surgery during the study. Note: A history of cataract surgery in the non-study eye is allowed for subjects who commit to not undergoing additional cataract surgery during the study.
  • Have newly developed or not stably controlled uveitis within the 6 months prior to Visit 1 (Screening).
  • Unwilling or unable to discontinue wearing contact lenses 14 days prior to Visit 2 (Randomization; Baseline; Day 1), and during the study conduct.
  • Requires, is likely to require, or is unwilling to discontinue the use of prohibited medications or procedures within 14 days prior to Visit 1 (Screening), or during the study conduct.

A. Other ocular surgeries that may affect visual function, including but not limited to photodynamic therapy. B. Desferrioxamine, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, tamoxifen, phenothiazines, ethambutol, or other agents known to cause crystalline lens, retinal, or optic nerve toxicity.

C. Chlorpromazine or corticosteroids that may aggravate crystalline lens opacity.

Note: Topical non-ocular corticosteroids are allowed.

General Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have a severe or not stably controlled systemic disease that may interfere with study participation or confound interpretability (e.g., acute phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; congestive heart failure; severe hepatic or renal insufficiency; malignant tumors currently being treated with chemotherapy).
  • Have diabetes mellitus with HbA1c ≥7.5%.
  • Have hypertension that is not stably controlled at Visit 1 (Screening) A. Systolic blood pressure: >180 mmHg B. Diastolic blood pressure: >100 mmHg after standard of care
  • Have participated or are planning to participate in a clinical study for an investigational drug/medical device within 30 days prior to Visit 1 (Screening), or during the study conduct.
  • Are pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy during the study.
  • Unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method of contraception throughout the study if a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP).
  • Unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method of contraception throughout the study if a male sexual partner of a WOCBP.
  • Have a family member or household member enrolled in the study.
  • Have any condition, in the opinion of the Investigator, that makes the subject unsuitable for study participation.

Treatment and study plan

0.4% ZOC2017217

Drug

Active Investigational Product

Control

Drug

Control

Primary outcomes

  1. BCDVA

    Time frame: Baseline as compared to Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

    Change from baseline in BCDVA at Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

  2. Contrast Sensitivity

    Time frame: Baseline as compared to Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

    Change from baseline in contrast sensitivity at Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

  3. Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25)

    Time frame: Baseline compared to Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

    Change from baseline in Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) scores at Weeks 4, 12, and 24. VFQ-25 score total should increase from the baseline visit to show better visual function at Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

  4. Crystalline Lens Opacity

    Time frame: Baseline compared to Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

    Change from baseline in crystalline lens opacity at Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

  5. BCDVA

    Time frame: Baseline compared to Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

    Proportion of subjects gaining ≥5, ≥10, or ≥15 letters from baseline in BCDVA at Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

  6. BCDVA

    Time frame: Baseline compared to Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

    Proportion of subjects losing ≤5, ≤10, or ≤15 letters from baseline in BCDVA at Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

  7. BCDVA

    Time frame: Baseline compared to Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

    Proportion of subjects achieving BCDVA ≥0.3, 0.1, or 0.0 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR; Snellen: 20/40, 20/25, or 20/20) at Weeks 4, 12, and 24.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Safety, AEs

    Time frame: From the start of use of the IP at Visit 2 (Day 1) to the time the subject is exited after Visit 6 procedures and assessments are conducted. Visit 6 is conducted 2 weeks after the last dose is given at Week 24.

    AE monitoring (ocular and non-ocular)

  2. Safety, Clinically Relevant Changes

    Time frame: From the start of use of the IP at Visit 2 (Day 1) to the time the subject is exited after Visit 6 procedures and assessments are conducted. Visit 6 is conducted 2 weeks after the last dose is given at Week 24.

    Clinically relevant changes from baseline in the following:

    Vital signs Slit-lamp biomicroscopy Corneal fluorescein staining (CFS)-National Eye Institute (NEI) Grading Scale Corneal endothelial cell count Intraocular pressure (IOP) Dilated fundus examination

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ocusun Ophthalmic Pharmaceutical (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.

Industry

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 9, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 21, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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