Study to evaluate dual AMD therapy

Cleveland-The Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute will lead a large, multicenter clinical trial to explore combination therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The 2-year, randomized, double-masked, controlled multi-center phase IIIb study will assess the safety and efficacy of verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Ophthalmics) administered in conjunction with intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to wet AMD. The study, which is being called DENALI, will take place at 45 centers in the United States and five in Canada.

"We are exploring the potential to improve outcomes and reduce the frequency of treatments by combining therapies that target different mechanisms responsible for the development of AMD," said Peter Kaiser, MD, the study's lead investigator and an ophthalmologist at Cole Eye Institute.