AAVCAGsCD59 for the Treatment of Wet AMD

This is a Phase 1, multi-center, open label study to assess the efficacy and safety of two doses of the adeno-associated viral vector serotype 2 (AAVCAGsCD59) expressing sCD59 administered via intravitreal injection seven days after a single intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF. All patients considered for enrollment in this study must have treatment naive wet AMD, adequate pupillary dilation to permit a thorough ocular exam, and best corrected distance visual acuity in the study eye of 20/25 to 20/400 using the Snellen eye chart.

Written informed consent will be obtained from each study patient prior to his/her participation in any study related procedures. Screening will determine patient eligibility for the study according to written inclusion and exclusion criteria, which include both general medical and AMD-specific criteria. Patients will be enrolled into the study upon verification that they fulfill all eligibility criteria and after completion of all screening assessments.

This study consists of a screening and injection of anti-VEGF (Day 0), injection of AAVCAGsCD59 (Day 7), and a monthly follow-up period (Month 1 through Month 12) where enrolled patients are treated as needed with intravitreal anti-VEGF based on an increase in central subfoveal thickness of >50 micrometers on OCT from Day 0, new subretinal hemorrhage, a decrease in > or equal to 10 ETDRS letters from the previous exam, or as needed based on the treating clinician. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the number of anti-VEGF injections that are required after a single intravitreal injection of AAVCAGsCD59 at a dose of 3.56x10e11vg for subjects 1-22 and 1.071x10e12vg for subjects 23-25 is administered on Day 7. Anti-VEGF will be injected at Day 0 to treat the CNV per standard of care and enable the AAVCAGsCD59 adequate time (up to two weeks) to enter the ganglion cells in the retina and start producing the transgene product, sCD59. Up to twenty-five (25) patients will be enrolled at to 2 clinical sites in this study. A long-term follow-up safety exam will occur at Month 24.

Inclusion criteria

• Men or women 50 years of age or older.
• Treatment naive Wet AMD with no evidence of subretinal fibrosis under the fovea.
• Presence of intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid on OCT.
• Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) Snellen equivalent 20/25 to 20/400 in the study eye using ETDRS charts at a starting distance of 4m.
• Adequate pupillary dilation to permit ocular examination and testing.
• Ability and willingness to return for all scheduled visits and assessments.
• Understand and comply with the clinical protocol and provide written informed consent prior to any study-related procedure.
• All fertile men must be willing to use barrier contraception during the study.
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraception for the duration of the trial. A woman of childbearing potential is defined as any female who has had menses within the last two years or has not undergone a hysterectomy or surgical sterilization.

Exclusion criteria

• Wet AMD secondary to non-AMD etiologies.
• Subretinal hemorrhage that interferes with the ability to adequately measure visual acuity or follow retinal or subretinal fluid collection on OCT.
• Serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED) that is >50% of the CNV lesion, >400µm in any diameter, or presence of a RPE tear.
• Presence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), central serous retinopathy, or symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion.
• Previous macular laser photocoagulation for CNV, photodynamic therapy (PDT), ocular radiation, or subretinal surgery for CNV in the study eye.
• History of conditions in the study eye which might alter visual acuity or interfere with study testing including clinically significant macular edema, central retinal vein occlusion, macular branch retinal vein occlusion, and optic neuropathy.
• Active uncontrolled glaucoma with IOP>30 mmHg despite treatment with glaucoma medications, cup-to-disc ratio of >0.9, visual field defects secondary to glaucoma that involve the macula, and optic atrophy from glaucoma.
• Likely candidate for intraocular surgery (including cataract surgery) in the study eye during the clinical trial.
• Acute or chronic infection in the study eye.
• History of uveitis unrelated to eye surgery in the study eye or opposite eye requiring treatment with topical corticosteroids or systemic immunosuppression within 24 months of enrollment.
• Any contraindication to intravitreal injection.
• Use intravitreal (study eye) corticosteroids within 3 months prior to screening.
• Any of the following underlying systemic diseases:

• Unstable or severe cardiovascular disease, e.g., congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Functional class III or IV), myocardial infarction within 6 months, ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring ongoing treatment, unstable angina, or critical limb ischemia;
• Cerebrovascular disease within 12 months prior to Screening that impairs the patient's ability to participate in the clinical trial;
• Dementia or neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease) of a level that prevents adequate evaluation of the subject during the study;
• Has an active malignancy or is currently undergoing treatment for an active malignancy at Screening, or has a history of malignancy that precludes completion of this 12-month study;
• Immunocompromised conditions and/or need for immunosuppressive therapy
• Any significant poorly controlled illness that would preclude study compliance and follow-up
• Current or prior use of any medication known to be toxic to the retina or optic nerve including, but not limited, to chloroquine/hydrochloroquine, deferoxamine, phenothiazines and ethambutol
• Previous treatment with any ocular or systemic gene transfer product
• Received any investigational product within 120 days prior to screening
• Any psychological, familial, sociological, geographical, or other condition that would preclude study compliance and follow-up