Actively Recruiting
MMP-9 Inhibition for Recalcitrant Wet AMD
Led by University of Iowa · Updated on 2026-04-02
50
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
329 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Wet (or neovascular) form of age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the Western world. Currently, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections (IVI) remain the standard-of-care treatment for wAMD. Previous studies show that about 90% of treated patients lose minimal visual function after 2 years of follow-up. There is still, a subset of 15% patients, incomplete responders, that do not improve and possibly worsen due to the persistence of sub-retinal fluid (with or without intra-retinal fluid) with chronic treatment. The investigators plan to evaluate the effect of oral doxycycline versus placebo on the anatomic and functional outcomes in persistent sub-retinal eye fluid in neovascular wet age-related macular degeneration. This subset are incomplete or non-responders to current anti-VEGF intravitreal therapy.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
MMP-9 Inhibition for Recalcitrant Wet AMD
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD)
- Treated only with anti-VEGF intravitreal injections for active choroidal neovascularization due to wAMD
- Can have other retinal conditions like diabetic retinopathy or vein occlusion if not treated with anti-VEGF injections
- Must have persistent sub-retinal and/or intra-retinal fluid due to active wAMD despite at least three consecutive anti-VEGF injections
- No previous side effects from tetracycline medications
You will not qualify if you...
- History of uveitis or intraocular inflammation
- Significant epiretinal membrane or macular hole distorting macular anatomy
- Media opacity preventing fluid detection on OCT
- Eye surgery within 3 months prior, or planned surgery within 9 months following randomization
- Peribulbar corticosteroid injection within past 6 months
- Intravitreal triamcinolone injection within past 4 months
- Other ocular conditions affecting vision during study (e.g., retinal vein occlusion, uveitis, neovascular glaucoma)
- Choroidal neovascularization from causes other than wAMD
- Inability to attend 6- and 9-month follow-ups
- Missing two or more consecutive anti-VEGF injections during 6-month treatment
- Need for imminent change in anti-VEGF medication or other treatments during study
- Fluid associated with geographic atrophy or disciform scar
- Sub-retinal or intra-retinal fluid not caused by choroidal neovascularization
- Active treatment for Irvine-Gass Syndrome
- Unstable medical condition affecting ability to complete 9-month study
- Significant kidney disease (serum creatinine >2.5 mg/dL)
- Very high blood pressure (systolic >180 mm Hg or diastolic >110 mm Hg)
- History of headaches related to tetracycline use
- History of pseudotumor cerebri
- Tetracycline use within past 6 months
- Pregnancy or planning pregnancy during study
- Sexually active women of child-bearing potential not using effective birth control
- Known allergy or intolerance to doxycycline or related drugs
- Use of certain medications (phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, digoxin, isotretinoin)
- History of gastroparesis, gastrectomy, or gastric bypass
- Use of strontium, acitretin, or tretinoin
- Abnormal liver enzymes (ALT or AST) at baseline
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
E
Elliott H Sohn, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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