Allogeneic Tissue Engineering (Nanostructured Artificial Human Cornea) in Patients With Corneal Trophic Ulcers in Advanced Stages, Refractory to Conventional (Ophthalmic) Treatment

This is a phase I-II, randomised, controlled, open-label clinical trial, currently ongoing in eleven Spanish hospitals, to evaluate the safety and feasibility, as well as clinical efficacy evidence, of a bioengineered human anterior corneal substitute in adults with severe trophic corneal ulcers refractory to conventional treatment, or with sequelae of previous ulcers. In the initial phase of the trial (n=5), patients were sequentially recruited, with a safety period of 45 days, receiving the bioengineered corneal graft. In the second phase of the trial (currently ongoing), subjects are block randomised (2:1) to receive either the corneal graft (n=10), or amniotic membrane (n=5), as the control treatment. Adverse events, implant status, infection signs and induced neovascularization are evaluated as determinants of safety and feasibility of the bioengineered graft (main outcomes). Study endpoints are measured along a follow-up period of 24 months, including 27 post-implant assessment visits according to a decreasing frequency. Intention to treat, and per protocol, and safety analysis will be performed.

Inclusion criteria

• Man or woman aged≥18, with no upper age limit.
• Patients that give their informed consent for study participation.
• Stage 3 Mackie corneal ulcers that do not respond to conventional medical treatment, or patients having undergone previous stage 3 Mackie corneal ulcers,33 currently suffering sequelae such as stromal fibrosis or corneal thinning, having no effective therapeutic alternative.
• Stromal involvement, not reaching the Descemet membrane. Central or peripheral localization.
• Minimum duration of the disease causing the corneal ulcer: 6 weeks.
• No active ocular infection.
• Patients with normal laboratory parameters as defined by: Leukocytes≥3000 cells/µL; Neutrophils≥1500 cells/µL; Platelets≥100 billion/L; AST/ALT≤1.5 ULN; Creatinine≤1.5 mg/dL.

Exclusion criteria

• Absence of stromal involvement.
• Good response to standard medical treatments for corneal disease in less than 3 to 5 weeks.
• Bullous keratopathy or other endothelial decompensations.
• Active ocular infection.
• Positive serology to HBV, HCV, HIV or any other pathology that may interfere with correct patient follow-up.
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women or childbearing-age women that do not consent the use of contraceptive methods approved in the protocol.
• Medical history of active neoplasia within the past 5 years. Participation in other clinical trials in 3 months previous to inclusion, or in the previous 5 years for trials with advanced therapies.