Dry AMD trial doses first patient

US firm Acucela Inc. has dosed the first patient in the Phase I trial of its lead candidate, ACU-02, an oral compound which is in development for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The trial, to determine safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the oral treatment, is a single-site, double-masked, placebo-controlled, single ascending-dose study treating healthy subjects.

ACU-02 reduces the accumulation of A2E, thereby interrupting the pathophysiology of AMD and preserving retinal cells.