Слайд 1New and Emerging Therapies for Retinal Diseases
Toufic Melki, M.D.
Richard Chiu, D.O.
Retina
                                                            
                                    Centers of Washington
Locations in Rockville, Arlington, and Georgetown University
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 2Disclosures
No financial interests to disclose
Dr. Chiu has been a consultant to
                                                            
                                    Alimera Sciences
                                
                            							
							
							
						 
											
                            Слайд 3Outline
I. Diabetic Macular Edema
A. Anti-VEGF therapies
B. Corticosteroids and role of inflammatory
                                                            
                                    mediators in DR
1. Ozurdex
2. Iluvien
II. AMD
A. Sustained delivery devices
B. Platelet derived growth factor inhibition (anti-PDGF therapy)
C. Gene therapy
D. Complement cascade inhibition
E. Squalamine topical therapy
III. RVO
A. Anti-VEGF therapies and differences with DME, wAMD therapy
B. Corticosteroids
IV. Case presentations
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 4Diabetic macular edema
26 million Americans with diabetes
2 million new cases of
                                                            
                                    DM diagnosed every year
19% of current diabetics are undiagnosed
About 10% of patients with DM develop DME in their lifetime
72,000 new cases of DME diagnosed each year
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 5Prevalence of diagnosed DM in US adults
2004
2008
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/ddtstrs/default.aspx
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 6Prevalence of diagnosed DM in Maryland adults
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/ddtstrs/default.aspx
2004
2008
2011
2004
0 - 6.3
6.4 – 7.5
7.6
                                                            
                                    – 8.8
8.9 – 10.5
≥ 10.6
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 7Diabetic macular edema
“Standard of care”
Focal/grid laser
ETDRS
Clinically significant diabetic macular edema
Focal/grid laser
                                                            
                                    decreased 3-year risk of moderate vision loss from 24% to 12%
Visual acuity did not improve
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 9Ranibizumab(Lucentis) for DME
FDA approved for diabetic macular edema (DME) in August
                                                            
                                    2012
Monthly injection
0.3 mg dose (different than 0.5 mg used for RVO and AMD)
$1100 per dose (vs $1900 for 0.5 mg)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 10RIDE and RISE studies
36 month Phase III studies for MONTHLY injection
                                                            
                                    of ranibizumab
759 patients
VA ranging from 20/40 to 20/320 
OCT > 275 microns
Focal laser allowed at 3 months
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 11RISE
RIDE
Sham group received Lucentis from mo 24-36
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 13RIDE/RISE
Not so impressive findings
23% treated patients still had central macular thickness
                                                            
                                    of ≥ 250 microns
40% had not achieved VA ≥ 20/40
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 14In the real world…
Treatment burden
Cost
Patient tolerance
Do we really need to inject
                                                            
                                    every month?
DRCR-net Protocol I
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 15Aflibercept (Eylea)
FDA approved for diabetic macular edema (DME) in July 2014
2
                                                            
                                    mg dose (same as RVO and AMD dose)
Monthly injection x 5 doses, Q 2 months thereafter
$1850 per dose
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 16VIVID (EU and Japan)/VISTA (US) studies
Phase III studies comparing Eylea 2.0
                                                            
                                    mg MONTHLY and Q2 MONTHS (after 5 initial monthly injections) to sham
VIVID 461 patients, VISTA 466 patients
3 year study
“Rescue” laser given if VA declined >=15 letters at any 1 visit or >= 10 letters in 2 consecutive visits
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 18Bevacizumab (Avastin)
$42 per dose for intravitreal
Cost of treatment for colon CA
                                                            
                                    is $40,000-100,000 annually
Efficacy in wAMD demonstrated to be comparable in CATT study
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 19BOLT study
24 month prospective study for bevacizumab (Avastin)
Mean change in BCVA
Treatment
                                                            
                                    (q 6 weeks) +8.6 letters
Laser -0.5 letters
15 letter or more gain
Treatment group 32%
Laser group 4%
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 20DRCR.net Protocol T
NIH sponsored studying comparing 660 patients randomly assigned to
                                                            
                                    treatment with Eylea, Lucentis, and Avastin
Identical retreatment criteria
AAO 2014
“Teaser” for 12 month data
Eylea treated patients significantly better by 2 ETDRS letters than Lucentis and Avastin treated patients
Eylea treated patients received one fewer injection than Lucentis and Avastin treated patients
Rate of ATE (arteriothromboembolic events) was 2% Eylea, 4% Avastin, 5% Lucentis
Results pending verification prior to publication
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 22Corticosteroids
Role of inflammatory cytokines BESIDES VEGF in DR
IL-6
MCP-1
Anti-VEGF therapy may not
                                                            
                                    fully address the pathophysiology of DR
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 23Fluocinolone (Iluvien)
Alimera Sciences
Non-biodegradable implant, releases 0.2 mcg/day
3 year duration of effect
Previously
                                                            
                                    rejected by FDA in 2011 citing adverse events (IOP, glaucoma)
In use in several E.U. countries
FDA approval September 2014 for DME previously treated with corticosteroids s significant IOP elevation
Available in US 1st quarter 2015, cost $8000 (?)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 24FAME study
Two 3 year Phase III studies for Iluvien
15 letter or
                                                            
                                    more gain
Treatment group 28.5-32.4%
Sham 13.4%
82-88% of phakic patients received cataract surgery
38-42% required IOP lowering meds
4.8-8.1% required glaucoma surgery
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 25Dexamethasone (Ozurdex)
Injectable biodegradable intravitreal implant, 3-6 mo duration of effect
$1300 per
                                                            
                                    dose
FDA approved for DME June 2014
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 26MEAD study
3 year phase III study
Retreatment allowed q 6 mo
Mean 4.1
                                                            
                                    injections over 3 year study period
Adverse outcomes
59% treated patients needed cataract surgery (vs 7% in sham group)
41% required IOP lowering medication
0.7% needed glaucoma filtration surgery
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 27MEAD study – pseudophakic/anticipated cataract surgery participants
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 28Corticosteroids
Consider using if/when DME patients are:
Pseudophakic or anticipating cataract surgery
Post-vitrectomy 
Unable
                                                            
                                    to maintain near monthly follow-up/injections frequently required for anti-VEGF treatment
Poorly responsive or tachyphylactic to anti-VEGF monotherapy
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 29AMD
How far we have come
What do we do (with what we
                                                            
                                    have)
Where we are going
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 30AMD – How far have we come
Bloch SB, et al. Am
                                                            
                                    J Ophthalmol 2012; 153: 209-213
Population based observational study, Denmark
Incidence of legal blindness from AMD decreased by 50% from 2000-2010
Most of the decrease occurring after 2006 (i.e. after introduction of anti-VEGF therapy)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 31AMD – How far have we come
MARINA study
Monthly ranibizumab (Lucentis) injection
                                                            
                                    x 2 years
+10.7 ETDRS letters
-14.9 letters with sham
-9.8 letters with photodynamic therapy (ANCHOR)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 32AMD – How far we have come
VIEW1/VIEW2
Phase III study comparing aflibercept
                                                            
                                    (Eylea) to ranibizumab (Lucentis)
Year 1: Eylea q 8 weeks (after 3 initial monthly doses) vs Lucentis q 4 w
Year 2: PRN with monthly evaluation
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 33AMD – What do we do (with what we have)
CATT
2 key
                                                            
                                    questions 
Comparison of bevacizumab (Avastin) with ranibizumab (Lucentis)
Monthly vs PRN dosing of each
24 month results
Monthly dosing favored over PRN
2.4 letters
Switching to PRN after 1 year of monthly injection resulted in -2.2 letters over continued monthly dosing
VA outcomes slightly favor Lucentis (1.4 letters) but was not statistically significant
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 34IVAN (“British CATT”)
2 key questions 
Comparison of bevacizumab (Avastin) with ranibizumab
                                                            
                                    (Lucentis)
Continuous (monthly) vs discontinuous (PRN)
24 month results (The Lancet, 382: 1258-1267) 
Bevazicumab (-1.37 letters) was “neither inferior nor non-inferior to ranibizumab”
Discontinuous (-1.63 letters) was “neither inferior nor non-inferior to continuous”
AMD – What do we do (with what we have)
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 35AMD- What do we do (with what we have)
HARBOR study
Ranibizumab (Lucentis)
0.5
                                                            
                                    mg vs 2.0 mg (“high dose”)
Monthly vs PRN after 3 monthly doses
Retreatment if OCT demonstrated fluid or if VA decreased by ≥ 5 letters
24 month results
No significant difference between 0.5 mg and 2.0 mg dose
In year 2, PRN treated group had similar visual outcomes with average of 9.9 weeks between injections
0.5 mg dose
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 36AMD - Where are we going
Sustained release
Quest for the “Everlasting Gobstopper”
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 37AMD – Where are we going
Encapsulated Cell Technology (Neurotech)
Genetically engineered RPE
                                                            
                                    cells line which can be modified to produce specified protein
Encapsulated non-biodegradable delivery device
Initial device produced ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) for retinitis pigmentosa and dry AMD
Adaptable to produce all classes of biotherapeutics (anti-VEGF, PDGF, etc.)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 38Encapsulated cell technology (ECT)
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 39AMD – Where are we going
Wet AMD/ECT
VEGF receptor decoy (NT-503) –
                                                            
                                    Affinity for VEGF similar to aflibercept (Eylea)
Phase 1
Dose escalation studies
Double implant vs single
2 line gain with double implant at 10 months
150 micron decrease in central subfield on OCT with double implant vs 50 micron with single
Phase 2 study with new generation implant with 2-3x release rate
Future implants could combine more than 1 therapy (e.g. anti-VEGF + anti-PDGF)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 40AMD – Where are we going
Nanostructured Tethadur (pSivida)
Implantable silicone porous silicone
                                                            
                                    wafer
Diameter of pores “tuned” to affect sustained release
“Tube of tennis balls”
Faster release with ping pong balls
Slower release with tennis balls
Drug (e.g. Avastin, Eylea, etc) withdrawn from vial and mixed with Tethadur particles
Animal studies – sustained release of bevacizumab for 6 months
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 42AMD – Where are we going
Port delivery system (PDS)
Developed by Genentech
                                                            
                                    in collaboration with ForSight VISION 4
Subconjunctival implant, placed in pars plana
10 minute procedure
Minimally invasive office based refill procedure
Phase 1 study
Lucentis
Average improvement of 2 lines at 1 year
Average 4-5 refills in 12 months
Phase 2 underway
Higher dose
Goal of 4 month interval
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 43AMD – Where are we going
MicroPump (Replenish)
Battery
Drug reservoir chamber
Refill port accessible
                                                            
                                    with transconjunctival 31 g needle
Intraocular canula releases microdose into vitreous cavity
Phase 1 study
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 44AMD – Where are we going
Beyond VEGF
Anti-Platelet derived growth factor (anti-PDGF)
Gene
                                                            
                                    Therapy/Stem Cell
Topical therapy
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 45Anti-platelet derived growth factor therapy
The problem with anti-VEGF monotherapy
Withdrawal or undertreatment
                                                            
                                    results in recurrent neovascularization in a vast majority because:
Anti-VEGF treatment decreases vascular permeability…
BUT does not cause regression of the NV complex
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 47Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)
What’s in a neovascular complex?
Endothelial cells
“bricks and
                                                            
                                    mortar”
Expresses PDGF
Pericyte recruitment
Pericytes
“armor against anti-VEGF”
Promotes endothelial cell survival through chemical signaling
Inflammatory cells
Anti-VEGF therapy
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 49PDGF antagonist (E10030), Ophthotech
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 50Combined anti-VEGF/anti-PDGF treatment
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 51Fovista (Ophthotech)
Pericyte
Anti-VEGF
PDGF
Fovista
Fovista bound to PDGF
Fovista + Anti-VEGF combination therapy
Pericyte coverage protects
                                                            
                                    NV complex from anti-VEGF induced disruption
Fovista is injected
Fovista binds PDGF leading to stripping away of pericytes 
Regression of NV complex!
Ophthotech.com
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 52Fovista (Ophthotech)
Phase 2 study
24 week endpoint
Comparison of Fovista/Lucentis vs Lucentis monotherapy
+10.6
                                                            
                                    letters for combination therapy
+6.5 for Lucentis monotherapy
Development of subretinal fibrosis
10% in combination group
51% in Lucentis monotherapy group
Phase 3 study underway
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 53Anti-PDGF
Also being developed by:
Neurotech using Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) implants
MedImmune as
                                                            
                                    a combination anti-VEGF/anti-PDGF injection with goal of lasting 6 months
REGN2176-3 (Regeneron) combination with aflibercept (Eylea) in Phase 1 studies
DE-120 (Santen) anti-VEGF/anti-PDGF in Phase 1 studies
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 55Gene therapy
Therapy in which genetic material is introduced into cells to
                                                            
                                    effect protein transduction by the cells
Compensate for structurally abnormal or missing genes
Also can be used to induce target host cells to secrete a naturally occurring or engineered therapeutic protein (as alternative to repeated injections)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 56Gene therapy
Desirable features of viral vectors
Able to introduce and transfer target
                                                            
                                    cells with cDNA
No activation of immune response
Vector incapable of causing disease
Much of the vector’s genetic material can be replaced by the therapeutic gene
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 58Gene therapy
Advantages of the eye
It’s small (i.e. low volume, large effect)
Immunologically
                                                            
                                    privileged 
Low systemic side effects
Direct delivery of therapy
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 59Ongoing retinal gene therapy trials
Wet AMD
Leber’s congenital amaurosis
Stargardt’s disease
Choroidemia
Usher syndrome
Retinitis pigmentosa
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 60AAV2-sFlt01
Intravitreal Therapy (Genzyme/Sanofi) 
Induces expression of a modified VEGF receptor 1
                                                            
                                    (VEGFR1)
Preclinical primate models
Binds VEGF with high affinity
Expresses VEGFR1 for at least 18 months after 1 injection
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 61AAV2-sFlt01
Subretinal therapy (Avalanche Biotech)
Phase 1 study (6 pts) treated with low/high
                                                            
                                    dose plus control arm
2 initial monthly Lucentis injections
Day 380
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 62AAV2-sFlt01
http://permalink.fliqz.com/aspx/permalink.aspx?at=2315379b3136443fa353b26aaf11d582&a=375d1defb6aa477988c6708adf47c1e7
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 63Stem cell transplantation
hESC (human embryonal stem cell)
Pluripotent (any germ layer)
Derived from
                                                            
                                    human embryos (blastocyst stage) 5 days after feritilization
Results in destruction of embryo
iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell)
Derived from adult cells
More tumorigenic than ESC (teratoma formation)
Amniotic and cord blood stem cells
Multipotent 	
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 65Stem cell transplantation
Ocata Therapeutics (formerly Advanced Cell Technology)
Phase 1/2 studies –
                                                            
                                    primary endpoint of safety and tolerability
Mean 22 months follow up, 3 dose cohorts (50K, 100K, 150K cells)
Human embroynal stem cell (hESC) derived RPE cells
9 pts c Stargardt’s/9 pts c dry AMD (VA ≤ 20/400 in worse vision cohorts and ≤ 20/100 in better vision cohort)
Wills, Bascom Palmer, UCLA
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 66Stem cell transplantation
Safe, well tolerated (i.e. no rejection by immune system
                                                            
                                    or teratoma formation)
Stargardt’s: HM to 20/800
dAMD: +7 ETDRS letters
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 67Complement cascade inhibition
Geographic atrophy
Loss of macular RPE
Pathophysiology
Complement cascade hyperactivity (?)
Chronic inflammation/overactivation
                                                            
                                    of immune system in macula
Complement factor H and I (CFH and CFI) work together to deactivate the cascade that triggers inflammatory response and cell death
Genetic polymorphisms in CFH, CFH are associated with advanced AMD risk
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 68Complement cascade inhibition
Lampalizumab (Genentech)
Inhibits alternative complement cascade by targeting Complement Factor
                                                            
                                    D
MAHALO study, Phase 2 study
Sham vs monthly injection 
Primary endopoint – change in GA area
Relationships between genetic polymorphisms with treatment assessed
RESULTS:
20.4% reduction in GA progression in ALL lampalizumab treated pts
44% reduction in GA progression in pts positive for CFI biomarker
57% of DNA tested pts were CFI+
Phase 3 underway
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
											
                            Слайд 71Squalamine
Originally derived from dogfish shark liver, now chemically synthesized 
Inhibits both
                                                            
                                    VEGF and PDGF
Initial wet AMD trials
Intravenous infusion
Weekly x 4 weeks, monthly thereafter
Effective gains in VA/maintenance of VA
RAPID plasma clearance – posterior ocular therapeutic concentration requires > 1 IV infusion treatments per week
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 72Squalamine eye drops
Ohr Pharmaceutical
Rapid uptake
Trough levels >> threshold to inhibit angiogenesis
Phase
                                                            
                                    2 IMPACT study
9 month data
Topical squalamine/Lucentis injection vs sham/Lucentis injection
Initial Lucentis injection and PRN injection thereafter
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 73Retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
Aflibercept (Eylea)
Regeneron
FDA approved for BRVO, October 2014
FDA approved
                                                            
                                    for CRVO, September 2012
VIBRANT study, Phase 3
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 74Retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
Similar results for the other anti-VEGFs
Lucentis 0.5 mg
                                                            
                                    (CRUISE/BRAVO)
Avastin
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 75Inflammatory cytokines, VEGF and RVO
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 76Combination treatments
Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin)/dexamethasone (Ozurdex)
Maturi, et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2014; 8:
                                                            
                                    1057–1064
6 month study
Initial Avastin followed by Ozurdex vs sham
PRN Avastin injection q month
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 77Maturi, et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2014; 8: 1057–1064
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 78Conclusions
Most patients with wet AMD, DME, RVO can now benefit from
                                                            
                                    effective and proven treatments
Many patients still fall through the cracks
Poorly responsive
Undertreated
Overall burden of treatment
Knowledge is power
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 79DME
20/160
20/60
20/30
20/30
Baseline
+ 1 year
+ 2 years
+ 3 years
63 y.o. female with DM2
Initial
                                                            
                                    monthly Avastin injection
Subtenons kenalog injection
RetreatedPRN
IVA q2 months
STK q 3-4 months
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 80
67 y.o. male with DM2
Initial monthly Avastin injection
Subtenons kenalog injection
Retreated PRN
IVA
                                                            
                                    q 2-4 months
STK q 3-4 months
Baseline
+ 1 year
+ 2 years
20/200
20/40
20/30
DME
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 81CRVO
56 year old male with BRVO
Did not show for scheduled Avastin
                                                            
                                    injection for 1 month
20/60
20/100
20/30
AVASTIN #1
AVASTIN #2
Baseline
+ 1 month
+ 2 months
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 82CRVO
46 y.o. male with CRVO
Initial observation no edema
Baseline
20/40
2 months
4+ months
20/80
AVASTIN #1
20/60
AVASTIN
                                                            
                                    #2 + STK
AVASTIN #3
5+ months
AVASTIN #4
20/30
20/30
20/40
AVASTIN #5
6+ months
7+ months
                                
 
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 83wAMD
77 y.o. female with classic CNVM
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 84wAMD
Baseline
1 month
2 months
3 months
20/400
20/200
20/200
20/100
AVASTIN #1
AVASTIN #2
AVASTIN #3
AVASTIN #4