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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04692688

Study of the Safety and Efficacy of APX3330 in Diabetic Retinopathy

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of APX3330 to treat diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Clinical Site 9, Phoenix, Arizona, United States

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About this study

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of APX3330 to improve Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Score (DRSS) in one hundred (100) subjects with moderately severe to severe NPDR or mild PDR.

Subjects with moderately severe to severe NPDR and mild PDR will be selected for study participation and be screened for study eligibility.

The eligible eye with the highest DRSS, as assessed by the central reading center, will be designated as the study eye for the primary efficacy analysis.

If the subject meets all eligibility criteria, then the subject will be randomized into the study and receive study medication. Blood will be drawn for biomarker analysis.

The total length of subject participation is approximately 26 weeks, with 5 clinic visits, 4 telephone safety calls, and one telephone call follow-up visit.

The execution of the entire study (first subject screen through last randomized subject completed) is expected to be approximately 12 to 15 months.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Males or non-pregnant females ≥ 18 years of age
  • At least one eye with DR graded at least moderately severe to severe NPDR or mild PDR (corresponding to DRSS 47, 53, or 61)
  • BCVA assessed by ETDRS protocol letters score of ≥ 60 letters (Snellen equivalent ≥ 20/63)
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 40 kg/m2, inclusive

Exclusion criteria

Ophthalmic:

  • Any prior treatment in the study eye with:
  • Focal or grid laser photocoagulation within the past year or PRP at any time
  • Systemic or intravitreal anti-VEGF agents within the last 6 months
  • Intraocular steroids including triamcinolone and dexamethasone implant within the last 6 months
  • Fluocinolone implant within the last 3 years
  • Active uveitis, vitritis, or infection in either eye including infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, or endophthalmitis.
  • Ocular incisional surgery including cataract surgery in the study eye within 3 months.
  • Clinically significant ocular disease in either eye.
  • Presence of macular or retinal vascular disease including diabetic macular edema, retinopathy from causes other than diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, pattern dystrophy, choroidal neovascularization of any cause, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion in the study eye.
  • History of retinal detachment, full-thickness macular hole in the study eye, or idiopathic or autoimmune uveitis in either eye.

Systemic:

  • Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to study drug.
  • Any disease or medical condition that in the opinion of the Investigator would interfere with the study, prevent the subject from successfully participating in the study, or which might confound the study results.
  • Participation in any investigational study within 30 days prior to screening or planning to participate in any other investigational drug or device clinical trials within 30 days of study completion.
  • Resting HR outside the specified range (50-110 beats per minute).
  • Known to be immunocompromised or receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Hypertension with resting diastolic blood pressure (BP) > 105 mmHg or systolic BP > 200 mmHg.
  • History of chronic liver disease or presence of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) consistent with such diagnosis.
  • Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant, nursing, planning a pregnancy, or not using a medically acceptable form of birth control.

Treatment and study plan

APX3330

Drug

APX3330, a small-molecule oral tablet, is a Ref-1 inhibitor that can potentially reduce proinflammatory and hypoxic signaling that contributes to several eye diseases.

Placebo

Drug

Placebo tablets are identical to APX3330 tablets except for the absence of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Primary outcomes

  1. Percent of Subjects With ≥ 2-step Improvement in Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Score (DRSS)

    Time frame: 24 Weeks

    Percent of subjects with a ≥ 2-step improvement in DRSS from baseline in the study eye (MITT Population- last observation carried forward). DRSS is scored on a range from 10 to 90 with 13 discrete scores given within that range and where higher scores indicate a worse outcome.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percent of Subjects With Binocular Improvement or Worsening in DRSS at Week 24

    Time frame: 24 Weeks

    Percent of subjects with Binocular Improvement or worsening in DRSS of ≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and ≥ 4 steps from baseline at Week 24 (MITT Population- Last Observation Carried Forward). DRSS is scored on a range from 10 to 90 with 13 discrete scores given within that range and where higher scores indicate a worse outcome.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ocuphire Pharma, Inc.

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Masked Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Orally Administered APX3330 in Subjects With Moderately Severe to Severe Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Mild Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Acronym: ZETA-1

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jan 5, 2021
Registry last updated
Jun 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.

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