Suprachoroidal delivery of steroids may be associated with fewer side effects

Early clinical trial results show that uveitis patients treated with a single suprachoroidal injection of triamcinolone acetonide experienced improved vision and no meaningful increase in IOP.

Clearside Biomedical this week announced the 6-month results from a phase 1/2 clinical trial, which used the company’s proprietary microinjector for the suprachoroidal injection.

“Delivery of drug to the suprachoroidal space may provide therapeutic effect close to the source of retinal and choroidal pathology, which may in turn have an impact on the dose required to achieve a benefit, as well as on the duration of effect,” said Debra Goldstein, MD, professor of ophthalmology and director of the uveitis service at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

During the course of the trial the 8 patients with noninfectious uveitis gained between 1 and 5 lines of vision, with the average improvement in BCVA close to 3 lines by week 26. No patient experienced any meaningful increase in IOP or required IOP-lowering medication during the six-month trial. The average reduction in retinal thickness was greater than 100 microns from baseline, which is considered meaningful. Clearside says their microinjector may avoid or reduce some of the side effects, such as increased IOP and lens opacification, commonly seen when steroids are delivered via eye drops or intravitreal injection.