Efficacy Evaluation Study of BAT5906 and Lucentis® in Patients With Macular Degeneration

A non-inferiority design was used to conduct a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled multi-center study. A total of 488 subjects with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (w-AMD) were planned to be enrolled. Qualified subjects were divided into experimental group and control group in a 1:1 ratio, and stratified randomized according to the letter value of baseline period and whether the eyes had received anti-VEGF drug treatment. The experimental group received BAT5906 injection. The control group received Lucentis® treatment. Only 1 eye per subject was included in this study.

The administration regimen was as follows: once every 4 weeks, 4mg BAT5906 or 0.5mg Lucentis® were injected intravitreal each time, the treatment period of the study was 48 weeks, a total of 13 administration times, the last follow-up was conducted at the 52nd week, the last visit did not require treatment, only efficacy and safety assessment, and blood samples were collected as required.

Ophthalmic examination, vital signs, physical examination, and laboratory examination were performed for efficacy and safety assessment according to the test procedures specified in the protocol, and blood samples were collected for immunogenicity indicators. Change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline was assessed by ETDRS visual acuity chart at 4-week intervals. The primary efficacy measure was the change in BCVA from baseline at 52 weeks. Secondary efficacy measures were the change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the target eye from baseline and the change in macular fovea thickness (CRT) from baseline at weeks 12, 24, 36 and 48.

Blood samples were collected according to the time points specified in the program, and the serum anti-drug antibody (ADA) was detected. Titer analysis and neutralizing antibody (Nab) analysis were performed on the samples confirmed as positive by ADA.

A non-inferiority design was used to conduct a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled multi-center study. A total of 488 subjects with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (w-AMD) were planned to be enrolled. Qualified subjects were divided into experimental group and control group in a 1:1 ratio, and stratified randomized according to the letter value of baseline period and whether the eyes had received anti-VEGF drug treatment. The experimental group received BAT5906 injection. The control group received Lucentis® treatment. Only 1 eye per subject was included in this study.

The administration regimen was as follows: once every 4 weeks, 4mg BAT5906 or 0.5mg Lucentis® were injected intravitreal each time, the treatment period of the study was 48 weeks, a total of 13 administration times, the last follow-up was conducted at the 52nd week, the last visit did not require treatment, only efficacy and safety assessment, and blood samples were collected as required.

Ophthalmic examination, vital signs, physical examination, and laboratory examination were performed for efficacy and safety assessment according to the test procedures specified in the protocol, and blood samples were collected for immunogenicity indicators. Change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline was assessed by ETDRS visual acuity chart at 4-week intervals. The primary efficacy measure was the change in BCVA from baseline at 52 weeks. Secondary efficacy measures were the change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the target eye from baseline and the change in macular fovea thickness (CRT) from baseline at weeks 12, 24, 36 and 48.

Blood samples were collected according to the time points specified in the program, and the serum anti-drug antibody (ADA) was detected. Titer analysis and neutralizing antibody (Nab) analysis were performed on the samples confirmed as positive by ADA.

Inclusion criteria

• Understand and sign the informed consent, and be willing to follow up according to the time specified in the trial;
• Age 50-85 years old (including boundary value), male and female;
• Study the subjects who were diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and still had active lesions confirmed by imaging examination. Active lesions were defined as the presence of any of the following lesions in the macular area: ① intraretinal fluid; ② Lipid exudation in the retina; ③ Subretinal fluid; (4) Subretinal hemorrhage; (5) Retinal pigment epithelium detachment; ⑥ Choroidal neovascularization leakage;
• The total area of the study eye lesions ≤30mm2(12 optic disc areas) was confirmed by the film reading center before randomization;
• The BCVA of the study eye at screening and baseline was 73-19 letters (ETDRS visual acuity chart, including boundary values), equivalent to Snellen visual acuity 20/40 to 20/400;
• BCVA≥19 letters, equivalent to Snellen visual acuity ≥20/400, measured by ETDRS visual chart at screening and baseline in non-study eyes.

Exclusion criteria

• The study eyes received any intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy (such as bevacizumab, abbercept, ranibizumab, conbercept, etc.) within 3 months before randomization;
• The study eyes had received the following treatments within 3 months before randomization: verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT), macular laser photocoagulation, transpillary thermotherapy (TTT), and other surgeries for AMD;
• The study eyes had undergone the following ophthalmic surgeries: vitrectomy, anti-glaucoma surgery, and macular transposition. The study eyes had undergone internal eye surgery (including cataract surgery) within 3 months before randomization, or external eye surgery within 1 month before randomization;
• The study eyes received intravitreal injection treatment (such as triamcinolone acetonide and dexamethasone) within 3 months before randomization, intravitreal injection of dexamethasone sustained release within 6 months, and injection of long-acting corticosteroids (such as triamcinolone acetonide, etc.) within, periocular or subconjunctival injection of any eye 3 months before randomization;
• Study eyes with ocular diseases affecting central vision (such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, uveitis, vascular striation, pathological myopia, retinal detachment, macular hole, macular epiretinal membrane, toxoplasmosis, optic nerve diseases);
• Study eyes with foveal ground pattern atrophy, scar or fibrosis, dense subfoveal hard exudation, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tear involving the center of the macula (confirmed by the reading center during screening);
• The study eyes had choroidal neovascularization not caused by nAMD, progressive retinopathy affecting corrected visual acuity, and any eye had vitreous hemorrhage or a history of vitreous hemorrhage, or a history of retinal detachment;
• The equivalent spherical mirror of the study eye with refractive error showed more than -6.0 diopters. For patients with previous refractive surgery or cataract surgery, the preoperative refractive error of the study eye should not exceed -6.0 diopters;
• The study eyes were lens free (excluding IOL eyes) or posterior lens capsule rupture (except YAG laser posterior capsuleotomy after IOL implantation more than 1 month before screening);
• The study eye has obvious refractive interstitial opacity or pupil failure, including cataract and corneal opacity, which may interfere with visual acuity assessment, safety assessment or fundus photography;
• The study eyes had pupil afferent defect (APD);
• Study eyes had uncontrolled glaucoma at randomization, defined as intraocular pressure that remained higher than 25mmHg after medical treatment or as judged by the investigator;
• Non-study eyes received photodynamic therapy (PDT) within 1 month before randomization;
• History of idiopathic or autoimmune associated uveitis in any eye;
• Pseudocyst stripping syndrome in any eye;
• Active eye infection in any eye (e.g., blepharitis, infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, iridecocyclitis, endophthalmitis);
• Systemic drugs that cause crystal or retinal toxicity, such as deferoxamine, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, phenothiazine and ethambutol or tamoxifen, are currently being used or may be required;
• Allergic reaction or history to sodium fluorescein and indocyanine green, allergic history to protein products for therapeutic or diagnostic use, or known allergic reaction to any monoclonal antibody;
• Patients who had surgery within 1 month before randomization and the surgery did not heal, and the investigator judged that the study drug had an effect on healing;
• Presence of clinically significant active systemic infectious disease under treatment;
• History of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary revascularization, cerebrovascular accident (including TIA), other thromboembolic diseases (such as thromboembolic angiitis, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, etc.), New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade ≥II cardiac dysfunction within 6 months before randomization, Severe unstable ventricular arrhythmias;
• Patients with active disseminated intravascular coagulation and significant bleeding tendency (such as hemoptysis, hematemesis, severe purpura, etc.) within 3 months before randomization, or who had received anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy other than aspirin /NSAIDs within 14 days before screening;
• Poorly controlled hypertension before randomization (defined as sitting systolic blood pressure ≥160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100mmHg after antihypertensive medication);
• Any uncontrollable clinical problems (such as serious mental, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and other system diseases and malignant tumors);
• Abnormal liver and kidney function (ALT and AST should not be higher than 2.5 times of the upper limit of normal value in the central laboratory; Crea and BUN shall not be higher than 2 times of the upper limit of normal value in the central laboratory);
• Abnormal coagulation function (prothrombin time > upper limit of normal 3 seconds or activated partial thromboplastin time > upper limit of normal 10 seconds);
• Patients with any of the following infections: active hepatitis B (HBV DNA > 1000 IU/mL if HBsAg(+)), hepatitis C, AIDS, or syphilis (syphilis RPR confirmatory test positive);
• Planned parenthood during pregnancy or lactation, or during the study period and within 6 months after the study. The pregnancy test of fertile female patients was positive during the screening period;
• Subjects who have participated in any drug (excluding vitamins and minerals) in the clinical trial within 3 months before randomization and have been treated with the experimental drug or device;
• The researcher believes that it is not suitable for this study.