Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07607496

MacuTherm Performance Study in Patients With iAMD

The goal of this study is to demonstrate that photothermal therapy with the individually dosed treatment plan proposed by Macula Explorer delivered safely by Navilas® Laser System effectively improves the life of photoreceptors and reduces the progression of intermediate Age-related Macular Degeneration (iAMD) and preserves photoreceptors shown by Ellipsoid Zone Integrity (EZI).

Participants will be randomized to either Treatment or Control Group. There will be 12 visits, monthly for the first 3 months, then quarterly until the end of the study after 2 years.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Age range

60 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Ophthalmology at Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Key Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male, female, or diverse
  • Age of 60 to 90 years old
  • Clinically confirmed intermediate AMD (iAMD, AREDS category 3) with the presence of:
  • At least 3 large drusen (diameter > 125 μm) within the inner ring of 3mm diameter of the ETDRS Grid centered on the fovea (with or without reticular pseudodrusen (RPE))
  • combined with at least 1 of the following other signs:
  • Incomplete RPE and outer retinal atrophy (i-RORA) outside central 1mm ring and/or
  • Hyperreflective foci (HRF) adjacent to drusen (within 3 mm)
  • Best corrected visual acuity between 65 and 87 letters
  • Clear optic media
  • Ability to communicate clearly and to understand and comply with the nature and requirements of the study
  • Ability to provide written informed consent in accordance with institutional, local and national regulatory guidelines
  • Willing to participate

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of late-stage AMD, neovascular (nAMD, active or fibrotic) or geographic atrophy (GA)
  • Maculopathies showing only pseudodrusen
  • Any systemic medication known to be toxic to the lens, retina or optic nerve
  • Any intraocular surgery within 6 months prior to study inclusion (except uncomplicated cataract surgery > 3 months)
  • Any previous thermal laser treatment in the macula
  • History of vitrectomy, filter surgery, corneal transplantation or retinal detachment
  • Previous therapeutic radiotherapy in the eye region
  • Pregnant or breast-feeding patients
  • Participation in an investigational drug, biologic or device study within 6 months prior to study entry (Note: observational clinical studies involving only over-the-counter vitamins, supplements or diets are not excluded)
  • Expected participation in an investigational drug, biologic or device study during the duration of this clinical investigation except clinical investigations for diagnostic purposes where examinations are not influencing the outcome of the current clinical investigation. Mandatory for participation in this additional clinical investigation is prior approval from the sponsor of this clinical investigation in writing
  • A serious medical condition that prevents the patient from performing study activities (including cardiac, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrinological, neurological or haematological conditions) or, in the opinion of the investigator, is likely to require surgery or hospitalization (at any time during his/her participation on this clinical investigation)
  • Known allergy to any ingredient required (for dilation of the pupil, if no alternative agent may be applied) or any contraindication to be treated with Navilas® Laser System 577SL
  • If, in the opinion of the investigator, it is unlikely that the study protocol will be followed

If only one eye is eligible for inclusion, none of the following criteria must be present in the fellow eye in order to allow inclusion of the study eye:

  • Presence of late-stage AMD in need of therapy
  • Presence of neovascular AMD (nAMD) in need of therapy
  • Presence of geographic atrophy (GA) in need of therapy (e.g. complement-inhibitors)
  • All the non-AMD eye diseases mentioned for the study eye as exclusion criteria
  • Previous therapeutic radiotherapy in the fellow eye region

Treatment and study plan

photothermal therapy

Device

Patients receive individualized photothermal therapy in the study eye

Sham treatment

Device

Patients receive sham treatment in the study eye

Primary outcomes

  1. Primary endpoint is defined by preservation of Ellipsoid Zone Integrity (EZI).

    Time frame: 12 months

    It is reached if at 12 months the EZI change from baseline is significantly better in the Treatment Group than in the Control Group.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in eyes of Treatment Group compared to eyes in Control Group compared to baseline to determine progression of Drusen within ETDRS sector (<6mm)

    Time frame: 24 months

  2. Rate of eyes converting to geographic atrophy

    Time frame: 24 months

  3. Rate of eyes converting to active exudative nAMD

    Time frame: 24 months

  4. Loss in BCVA of > 3 lines compared to baseline

    Time frame: 24 months

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jan Tode, Prof. Dr. med.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+49 3328 31 282-100

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

OD-OS MacuTherm GmbH

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Individualized Navigated Photothermal Therapy in Patients With Intermediate AMD: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Performance of theTherapy Proposed by Macula Explorer Using Navilas Laser System

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 26, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.