AAO 2026: Kamuvudine K8 slows geographic atrophy growth in phase 2

The intraocular inflammasome inhibitor kamuvudine K8 (Inflammasome Therapeutics) reduced geographic atrophy (GA) lesion growth by 54% over 6 months at the 0.7-mg dose in a phase 2 trial, according to Liangbo Shen, MD, a vitreoretinal surgery fellow at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Shen presented the findings during Retina Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, and discussed them with Ophthalmology Times.¹

How was the trial designed?

The inflammasome is a group of intracellular proteins that acts like a smoke detector, sensing stressors such as altered lipid metabolism, oxidation, and complement activation, Shen explained. By inhibiting it, K8 aims to dampen the multifactorial process that drives dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The multicenter US trial enrolled 30 patients with bilateral GA (60 eyes). Investigators treated the worse-seeing eye with 1 of 3 K8 doses at baseline and month 3 and used the untreated fellow eye as the control.¹ Because GA growth rates correlate between a patient’s 2 eyes, this design reduces variability and the required sample size. The result is a more efficient trial that “can reduce the burden for our patients,” Shen said.

What were the key findings?

At the 0.7-mg dose, K8 reduced GA progression by 54% over 6 months, including 43% over the first 3 months and 70% over the next 3 months. “So potentially there’s an increasing effect, but obviously we need a larger study to evaluate that,” Shen said. In a prespecified stratum of eyes with non-subfoveal lesions, best-corrected visual acuity improved by 4 letters compared with controls (P = .004). The study was not powered for visual acuity.¹

K8 is a bioerodible implant delivered through a 24-gauge in-office injection from a preloaded injector, and it does not require refrigeration.¹ With quarterly dosing, patients would need injections only every 3 months.

What did the trial show for safety?

No drug-related serious adverse events or dose-limiting toxicities occurred through 6 months, and there were no increased rates of neovascular AMD or intraocular inflammation. Shen said a larger phase 3 trial with longer follow-up is needed to fully evaluate efficacy and safety.

For more from the meeting, visit Ophthalmology Times’ AAO 2026 coverage.

Reference
1. Shen LL. A phase 2 clinical trial of the inflammasome inhibitor kamuvudine K8 in geographic atrophy. Presented at: Retina Subspecialty Day, American Academy of Ophthalmology 2026 Annual Meeting; October 9, 2026; New Orleans, LA. Session RET12.