Acute Pseudophakic Cystoid Macular Edema Treatment Trial: Intravitreal Ranibizumab Versus Triamcinolone Acetonide

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Despite improved cataract surgery instrumentation and techniques, the incidence of
clinical CME remains 1 - 3% following uncomplicated PE/PCIOL. CME remains the most
common cause of suboptimal post-operative visual acuity (VA) after uncomplicated
PE/PCIOL. 1% clinical CME incidence represents 30,000 new cases annually in the USA.
Clinical CME is defined as clinically evident CME, with VA typically 20/40 - 20/200.
Diagnostic testing can confirm CME by FA leakage and increased CRT on OCT. If left
untreated, chronic photoreceptor degeneration and irreversible VA loss can occur, even
if the macular edema was to eventually resolve.

1.2 TREATMENT OF PSEUDOPHAKIC CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA Several treatment options for CME
have been investigated, including topical, oral, periocular and intravitreal
corticosteroids. Corticosteroids inhibit phospholipase A2, inhibiting production of
arachidonic acid, precursor of the lipo-oxyenase (LOX) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX)
pathways. Because corticosteroids inhibit both the LOX and COX pathways, corticosteroids
may be expected to be more effective than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
in decreasing inflammation. However, corticosteroids have side effects, including the
potential for increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in susceptible patients, and require
additional treatment for secondary glaucoma. NSAIDs specifically inhibit COX-2, and
therefore avoid potential complications of corticosteroids. NSAIDs may be a good option
for CME treatment of patients who are known corticosteroid responders. However, corneal
stromal melting is a rare but serious potential side-effect of topical NSAIDs.

1.3 RANIBIZUMAB (R) AND PSEUDOPHAKIC CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA Numerous studies, such as
ANCHOR, MARINA, and PIER, have shown that R effectively reduces perifoveal capillary
leakage and CMT, when used as treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration
(AMD). BRAVO and CRUISE data have shown similar reduction in perifoveal capillary
leakage and CMT when used as treatment for retinal vein occlusions (RVO).

To date, there is no published study reporting efficacy of R monotherapy for acute
pseudophakic CME. This study will assess R monotherapy, and eliminate any possible
confounding effect of prior or concurrent treatment with either corticosteroids, NSAIDs,
or both. Intravitreal R injections may avoid the potential for IOP elevation common with
topical, periocular and intravitreal corticosteroids. R would also avoid corneal stromal
melting, a rare but serious potential side-effect of topical NSAIDs.

1.5 CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH RANIBIZUMAB R has been studied in more than 5000 subjects
with neovascular AMD in a number of Phase I, I/II, II, III, and IIIb clinical trials.
Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure have occurred in <0.1% of
intravitreal injections, including endophthalmitis, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
(RD), and iatrogenic traumatic cataract. Other serious ocular adverse events observed
among R-treated subjects and occurring in <2% of subjects include intraocular
inflammation and increased IOP. The most common adverse reactions (reported > 6% higher
in R-treated subjects than control subjects) were conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain,
vitreous floaters, increased IOP, and intraocular inflammation. Although there was a low
rate (<4%) of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) observed in the R clinical trials,
there is a potential risk of ATEs following intravitreal use of vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors.

2. OBJECTIVES To assess the safety and efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (R) and
triamcinolone acetonide (T) for treatment of acute pseudophakic CME.

The primary objective of the study is to assess the SAFETY of intravitreal R and T for
acute pseudophakic CME treatment, by evaluating:

- Incidence and severity of ocular adverse events, as identified by eye examination

- Incidence and severity of other adverse events, as identified by physical
examination, subject reporting, and changes in vital signs

The secondary objectives of the study are to determine EFFICACY of intravitreal R and T
for acute pseudophakic CME treatment, by evaluating:

- Mean change in spectral domain OCT CMT from baseline (microns)

- Mean change in ETDRS letters from baseline (letters)

- Proportion of patients with 3 line or better ETDRS letter improvement (%)

- Time to 3 line ETDRS letter improvement (days)

- Mean number of R or T injections (#)

- Mean IOP (mm Hg)

3. STUDY DESIGN 3.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY This is an open-label, Phase I/II study
evaluating intravitreal R vs. intravitreal T in subjects with acute pseudophakic CME.
Twenty patients with acute CME after uneventful PE/PCIOL will be randomized 1:1 to
treatment with R or T. R patients will receive three monthly R injections, followed by
PRN dosing. T patients will receive PRN injections every 3 months.

Re-treatment criteria will include clinically evident worsening of CME, combined with
any of the following:

- Any increase in spectral domain OCT CMT

- Any observable fluid on OCT

- Any qualitatively increased perifoveal leakage/pooling on FA. Patients will be
followed monthly for 12 months.

3.2 RATIONALE FOR STUDY DESIGN To date, there is no published study reporting efficacy
of R monotherapy for acute pseudophakic CME. The proposed study would eliminate possible
confounding effect of prior or concurrent treatment with steroids, NSAIDs, or both.
Intravitreal R injections may avoid IOP elevation common with topical, periocular and
intravitreal T injections.

3.3 OUTCOME MEASURES

3.3.1 Primary Outcome Measures

The primary objective of the study is to assess the SAFETY of intravitreal R and T for
acute pseudophakic CME treatment, by evaluating:

- Incidence and severity of ocular adverse events, as identified by eye examination

- Incidence and severity of other adverse events, as identified by physical
examination, subject reporting, and changes in vital signs

3.3.2 Secondary Outcome Measures

The secondary objectives of the study are to determine EFFICACY of intravitreal R and T
for acute pseudophakic CME treatment, by evaluating:

- Mean change in spectral domain OCT CMT from baseline (microns)

- Mean change in ETDRS letters from baseline (letters)

- Proportion of patients with 3 line or better ETDRS letter improvement (%)

- Time to 3 line ETDRS letter improvement (days)

- Mean number of R or T injections (#)

- Mean IOP (mm Hg)

3.4 SAFETY PLAN All subjects will be queried as to systemic adverse events (AE).
Potential ocular AE's predicted from common knowledge and historical data about R and T
include: ocular injection, pain, discharge, redness, visual changes, floaters, IOP
elevation, allergic reaction, infection, inflammation, RD, choroidal detachment,
vitreous hemorrhage, and endophthalmitis. Potential systemic AE's include and are not
limited to: stroke, heart attack, transient ischemic attack, reversible ischemic
neurological defect, blood pressure elevation, weakness, headache, nausea, and malaise.
AE incidence will be obtained by close examination and query of all subjects. All
patients will be unmasked, so that any AEs will be readily apparent as to the causative
drug. Testing and treatment recommendations will be made appropriate to the specific AE.

3.5 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS This study will be conducted in accordance with
current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Good Clinical Practices (GCPs), and
local ethical and legal requirements.

4. MATERIALS AND METHODS

4.1 SUBJECTS

4.1.1 Subject Selection 20 subjects from a single site will be enrolled. Eligible subjects
will have been provided informed consent.

4.1.2 Inclusion Criteria

Subjects will be eligible if the following criteria are met:

- Ability to provide written informed consent and comply with study assessments for the
full duration of the study

- Age > 18 years

- Treatment naive subjects with a history of uncomplicated PE/CEIOL within 3 months of
referral for treatment, and a diagnosis of CME secondary to PE/CEIOL within 1 month of
referral for treatment.

- Best corrected VA 20/40 - 20/400.

- Spectral domain OCT CMT > 300 microns

- Treatment naive subjects with a history of uncomplicated cataract surgery within 12
months of referral for treatment and a diagnosis of CME secondary to cataract surgery
within 12 months of referral for treatment.

- Patients who have received pre- or post-operative topical corticosteroids and/or NSAIDs
will have to discontinue such medications for at least 2-4 weeks prior to entering this
study.

- Best corrected ETDRS VA of 20/40 - 20/400.

- Spectral domain OCT central retinal thickness > 300 microns.

4.1.3 Exclusion Criteria

Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from this study:

- Diabetic retinopathy (DR) worse than moderate NPDR

- Macular edema associated with DR

- Ocular diseases causing decreased VA of the study eye, e.g. AMD or RD

- History of allergy to FA dye

- History of glaucoma surgery

- Active conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, or endophthalmitis in either eye

- Concurrent use of systemic anti-VEGF agents

- Received any other experimental drug within 12 weeks prior to enrollment

- Currently being treated for active systemic infection

- Inability to comply with study or follow-up procedures

- Has a condition that, would preclude study participation (e.g. drug abuse)

- Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test) or lactation

- Pre-menopausal women not using adequate contraception

- Any condition that would pose a hazard to the subject if R or T were given

- Participation in another simultaneous medical trial

4.2 METHOD OF TREATMENT ASSIGNMENT

Patients will be randomized to treatment Group R or Group T according to the Treatment
Randomization Chart in Appendix F:

- Group R: Three initial monthly injections followed by monthly PRN injections based on
pre-defined retreatment criteria.

- Group T: One initial injection followed by PRN injections every 3 months based on
pre-defined retreatment criteria.

All subjects will be unmasked to the treatment assignment.

4.3 STUDY TREATMENT

4.3.1 Formulation R is formulated as a sterile solution aseptically filled in a sterile,
single use 2 mL stoppered glass vial. Each single use vial is designed to deliver 0.05 mL of
10 mg/mL ranibizumab aqueous solution with 10 mM histidine HCI, 10% trehalose dihydrate, and
0.01% polysorbate 20, pH 5.5.

T injectable suspension 40 mg/mL is a single use synthetic corticosteroid with
anti-inflammatory action. Each mL of the sterile, aqueous suspension provides 40 mg of
triamcinolone acetonide, with sodium chloride for isotonicity, 0.5% (w/v)
carboxymethylcellulose sodium and 0.015% polysorbate 80. It also contains potassium chloride,
calcium chloride (dihydrate), magnesium chloride (hexahydrate), sodium acetate (trihydrate),
sodium citrate (dihydrate) and water for injection. Sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid
may be present to adjust pH to a target value 6 - 7.5.

4.3.2 Dosage and Administration

a. Dosage Patients on R will receive 3 initial injections monthly followed by monthly PRN.
Patients on T will receive an initial injection followed by PRN injections every 3 months.

Re-treatment criteria include clinically evident worsening of CME, combined with any of the
following:

- Any increase in spectral domain OCT CMT

- Any observable fluid on OCT

- Any qualitatively increased perifoveal leakage/pooling on FA.

The intravitreal injection procedure will be carried out under controlled aseptic conditions.
0.5 mL of R will be given by intravitreal injection 3.0 to 3.5 mm posterior to the surgical
limbus inferiorly. Similar technique will be used for T intravitreal injections, with two
exceptions: one, a sterile 27-gauge ½ inch needle will be used for the intravitreal
injection; and two, 4 mg T/0.1 mL volume will be injected intravitreally. Following the
intravitreal injection, patients will be monitored for elevation in IOP and for
endophthalmitis. Patients will be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of
endophthalmitis without delay.

Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects will be eligible if the following criteria are met:

- Ability to provide written informed consent and comply with study assessments for the
full duration of the study

- Age > 18 years

- Treatment naive subjects with a history of uncomplicated cataract surgery within 3
months of referral for treatment and a diagnosis of CME secondary to cataract surgery
within 1 month of referral for treatment.

- Best corrected ETDRS VA of 20/40 - 20/400.

- Spectral domain OCT central retinal thickness > 300 microns.

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from this study:

- Any prior treatment for CME secondary to cataract surgery including but not limited to
pre or post-operative corticosteroids, NSAIDS, etc.

- Subject has significant diabetic retinopathy (greater than moderate NPDR) or macular
edema associated with diabetic retinopathy

- Any other additional ocular diseases which could irreversibly compromise the visual
acuity of the study eye including anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), age
related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal detachment, etc.

- History of allergy to fluorescein, not amenable to treatment

- History of glaucoma surgery

- Active infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, or endophthalmitis in either
eye

- Concurrent use of systemic anti-VEGF agents

- Have received any other systemic experimental drug within 12 weeks prior to
enrollment.

- Currently being treated for active systemic infection

- Inability to comply with study or follow-up procedures.

- Patient has a condition that, in the opinion of the investigator would preclude
participation in the study (i.e. chronic alcoholism, drug abuse)

- Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test) or lactation

- Pre-menopausal women not using adequate contraception. The following are considered
effective means of contraception: surgical sterilization or use of oral
contraceptives, barrier contraception with either a condom or diaphragm in conjunction
with spermicidal gel, an IUD, or contraceptive hormone implant or patch.

- Any other condition that the investigator believes would pose a significant hazard to
the subject if the investigational therapy were initiated

- Participation in another simultaneous medical investigation or trial