ARMD pharmacogenetics project

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Genotype and response to treatment in age-related macular degeneration

• IRAS ID

  4414

• Sponsor organisation

  The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

• Eudract number

  2008-007319-33

• ISRCTN Number

  n/a

• Research summary

  Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the commonest cause of blindness in the western world. There are two types of ARMD: the milder dry form and the more severe, progressive, wet condition. Wet ARMD may cause severe visual impairment by the growth of new blood vessels from the choroid to the retina. A promising advancement in treatment has come with the use of agents that inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known promoter of new blood vessel growth. Ranibizumab (Lucentis©) is a fragment of recombinant monoclonal antibody that inhibits all biologically active forms of VEGF. It may be administered into the vitreous cavity and is now accepted as the most effective treatment for wet ARMD. Although other forms of monoclonal antibody are available, Lucentis© is currently the only licensed drug available for use in the United Kingdom.It is entirely plausible that different treatments work optimally in patients with different gene changes, but as yet no-one has tested this hypothesis. If there were such a link, patients could be given simple DNA tests then put on a treatment regime ideally suited to their particular form of ARMD. This could potentially save sight by optimising treatment . In order to determine whether there is a relationship between the genetic basis of ARMD and response to treatment, we propose to recruit approximately 400 patients who are being treated with Lucentis©. We will test patients?? DNA to find which of the common ARMD-associated gene changes they have and then record how they respond to treatment over the first 6 months. We hope that this study will obtain pilot data on underlying trends which can then be further analysed in a larger cohort of patients.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  08/H1306/123

• Date of REC Opinion

  12 Feb 2009

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion