4D-150 for Diabetic Macular Edema

Not currently recruiting at 16 trial locations

Overseen By Chyong N

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: 4D Molecular Therapeutics

Must be taking: Aflibercept

Must not be taking: Anti-VEGF, Corticosteroids

Disqualifiers: Macular edema, Gene therapy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new treatment called 4D-150 for individuals with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), a condition where diabetes causes swelling in the eye's macula, leading to vision problems. The trial compares 4D-150 to Aflibercept to determine which is more effective. Participants will receive injections of these treatments to identify the most effective dose. Suitable candidates for this trial include those diagnosed with DME in the past two years, experiencing vision loss due to the condition, and who have previously responded to Aflibercept. As a Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on evaluating the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of people.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking systemic anti-VEGF treatments and systemic corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications before participating. If you are on these medications, you will need to stop them for a certain period before joining the trial.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that 4D-150 is safe for patients. Studies have found it to be well-tolerated, with no reports of eye swelling at any time or dose. This is positive because the treatment hasn't caused serious eye problems so far.

The other treatment in this trial, Aflibercept, has already received FDA approval for treating eye conditions like wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. This approval suggests that Aflibercept is generally safe and effective for eye use.

Overall, data supports the safety of both treatments in this trial. 4D-150 has no major safety concerns reported, and Aflibercept has a well-established safety record. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Unlike the standard treatments for diabetic macular edema, which typically involve repeated injections of medications like Aflibercept, 4D-150 offers a novel approach by using gene therapy. 4D-150 is administered as a single dose intravitreal (IVT) injection, potentially reducing the frequency of treatments needed. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it targets the underlying causes of the condition at a genetic level, offering the promise of longer-lasting effectiveness and, possibly, better outcomes for patients.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for Diabetic Macular Edema?

Research has shown that 4D-150, a treatment under study in this trial, may help treat Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). Studies have found it to be safe, with no eye inflammation observed even after 60 weeks. Another treatment option in this trial, aflibercept, is known to improve vision in people with DME. The goal is for 4D-150 to provide long-lasting benefits with just one injection, making it a strong option for managing DME effectively. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Julie Clark, MD

Principal Investigator

4D Molecular Therapeutics

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adults over 18 with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) diagnosed within the last two years, who've shown improvement after an aflibercept eye injection. Participants must have certain levels of vision in the affected eye and be able to undergo further injections. Those with other causes for macular edema or on recent anti-VEGF/corticosteroid treatments can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

My eye condition improved after receiving an aflibercept injection.

Provide written informed consent

My eyes are healthy enough for detailed exams and tests.

Exclusion Criteria

My eye condition may need surgery within the next 2 years.

My macular edema is not due to diabetic macular edema.

I haven't taken any experimental treatments in the last 3 months or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Dose Confirmation

Participants receive a single dose IVT injection of 4D-150 at the assigned dose level on Day 1

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Dose Expansion

Participants receive a single dose IVT injection of 4D-150 at the assigned dose level on Day 1

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• 4D-150 IVT
• Aflibercept

Trial Overview

The trial is testing a new treatment called 4D-150 compared to Aflibercept, both administered through an injection into the eye (IVT). It's designed to see which is better at improving vision for people with DME. Patients are randomly assigned to receive one of these treatments and won't know which they're getting.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: 4D-150 Part 2 Dose Expansion Dose Level 2 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

4D-150 will be administered at the assigned dose level as a single dose IVT injection on Day 1.

Group II: 4D-150 Part 2 Dose Expansion Dose Level 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

4D-150 will be administered at the assigned dose level as a single dose IVT injection on Day 1.

Group III: 4D-150 Part 1 Dose Confirmation Dose Level 2 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

4D-150 will be administered at the assigned dose level as a single dose IVT injection on Day 1.

Group IV: 4D-150 Part 1 Dose Confirmation Dose Level 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

4D-150 will be administered at the assigned dose level as a single dose IVT injection on Day 1.

Group V: 4D-150 Part 2 Dose Expansion Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Aflibercept at a fixed regimen will be administered.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

4D Molecular Therapeutics

Lead Sponsor

Trials

9

Recruited

850+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 26 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nv-AMD), intravitreal injections of aflibercept (Eylea) led to a significant improvement in visual acuity over 14 months, with 61.5% of eyes showing improvement and a mean visual acuity change from 0.26 to 0.14 LogMAR (P=0.02).

The treatment also resulted in a significant reduction in central macular thickness from 409μm to 229μm (P<0.02), and no adverse events were reported, indicating that aflibercept is a safe and effective option for treating naïve patients with nv-AMD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intravitreal aflibercept (A-IVI) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nv-AMD): one year experience. Papavasileiou, E., Zygoura, V., Richardson, T., et al.[2019]

In a study of 92 diabetic patients treated with intravitreal aflibercept for diabetic macular edema, significant improvements were observed after 12 months, with average visual acuity increasing from 59.7 to 69.6 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters.

Aflibercept treatment also led to a notable reduction in central foveal thickness from 431 µm to 306 µm, indicating effective anatomical changes alongside improved vision.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intravitreal aflibercept for diabetic macular oedema: Moorfields' real-world 12-month visual acuity and anatomical outcomes. Lukic, M., Williams, G., Shalchi, Z., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 40 patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), a treat-and-extend regimen using aflibercept showed significant improvement in central subfield macular thickness (CST) but limited gains in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after one year.

The study found that patients who responded well to initial treatments (gaining 4 or more letters in vision) experienced greater overall vision improvement, suggesting that early response to treatment may predict better long-term outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treat-and-extend therapy with aflibercept for diabetic macular edema: a prospective clinical trial. Hirano, T., Toriyama, Y., Takamura, Y., et al.[2021]

Intravitreal injections of ziv-aflibercept (IVI-ZA) over 48 weeks were found to be safe, with no significant changes in electroretinogram results or any systemic or ocular complications in the seven patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

The treatment led to a significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after the first injection, which was maintained throughout the study, and a notable decrease in central retinal thickness (CRT), indicating its efficacy in managing DME.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intravitreal Ziv-Aflibercept for Diabetic Macular Edema: 48-Week Outcomes. de Andrade, GC., de Oliveira Dias, JR., Maia, A., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 30 patients with retinitis pigmentosa-associated cystoid macular oedema, intravitreal aflibercept (Eylea) was found to be safe, with no significant adverse events reported over 12 months.

While 37.9% of patients showed a reduction in central macular thickness (CMT) after treatment, there was no overall significant improvement in visual acuity, indicating that while some patients may benefit anatomically, this does not necessarily translate to better vision.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prospective exploratory study to assess the safety and efficacy of aflibercept in cystoid macular oedema associated with retinitis pigmentosa. Strong, SA., Peto, T., Bunce, C., et al.[2021]

Intravitreal aflibercept significantly improved visual acuity in patients with diabetic macular oedema compared to macular laser photocoagulation and other treatments like bevacizumab and ranibizumab, particularly in those with worse baseline vision, as shown in phase III trials.

Aflibercept was generally well tolerated, making it a promising and effective new treatment option for diabetic macular oedema.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aflibercept: A Review of Its Use in Diabetic Macular Oedema. Keating, GM.[2022]

Intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) treatment significantly improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in both treatment-naïve patients (+7.8 letters) and previously treated patients (+5.0 letters) after 12 months, indicating its efficacy in managing diabetic macular edema (DME).

The treatment also led to a decrease in central retinal thickness (CRT) in both groups, with a consistent injection frequency of about 7.6 injections over the year, although 54.1% of patients experienced ocular treatment-emergent adverse events, highlighting the need for monitoring safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Real-world outcomes following 12 months of intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy in patients with diabetic macular edema in France: results from the APOLLON study. Korobelnik, JF., Daien, V., Faure, C., et al.[2020]

In a study of 26 patients with refractory diabetic macular edema (DME), ziv-aflibercept treatment led to significant improvements in visual acuity and macular thickness after switching from previous anti-VEGF therapies.

No adverse ocular or systemic side effects were reported, indicating that ziv-aflibercept is a safe option for patients who did not respond to other treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety and Efficacy of Ziv-Aflibercept in the Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema. Ashraf, M., Kayal, HE., Souka, AAR.[2022]

Citations

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4DMT Presents Positive 60-Week Results from 4D-150 ...

4D-150 continues to be well tolerated with no intraocular inflammation observed at any timepoint or dose level; 4D-150 demonstrated durable ...

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4DMT Announces Positive Interim Data from 4D-150 ...

Across all DME patients dosed to date, 4D-150 continues to be well tolerated with no intraocular inflammation observed at any timepoint or ...

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4D-150 in Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema

It identifies the role of the intervention that participants receive. Types of arms include experimental arm, active comparator arm, placebo comparator arm, ...

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Interim 60-week Results from the SPECTRA Clinical Trial ...

SPECTRA Clinical Trial Evaluating. Intravitreal 4D-150 in Diabetic Macular Edema. July 31, 2025. Page 2. © 2025 4D Molecular Therapeutics. All Rights ...

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4D-150 for Diabetic Macular Edema · Info for Participants

Research shows that aflibercept (Eylea), a component of 4D-150 IVT, significantly improves vision in patients with diabetic macular edema compared to other ...

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FDA grants RMAT designation to 4DMT for DME gene ...

First: 4D-150 has strong potential to treat both wet AMD and DME and to become a “new backbone therapy providing multi-year sustained VEGF ...