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Acucela closes patient enrollment in Phase IIb/III trial of emixustat hydrochloride

Acucela, a US-based clinical-stage biotechnology firm, has completed the patient enrollment in its ongoing Phase IIb/III clinical trial evaluating emixustat in subjects with geographic atrophy (GA) associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Intermediate AMD

The multicenter, randomized, double-masked, dose-ranging Safety and Efficacy Assessment Treatment Trials of Emixustat hydrochloride (SEATTLE) trial is started in early 2013.

A total of 508 patients with GA associated with dry AMD were enrolled in the Phase IIb/III clinical trial.

The company said that emixustat, its first internally developed compound, is being evaluated to determine whether it slows the rate of progression of GA lesions in these patients.

Acucela chairman, president and CEO Ryo Kubota said, "Completing enrollment in this trial ahead of schedule represents a tremendous achievement for the program."

The orally dosed emixustat targets the visual cycle, and is in development for the treatment of GA associated with dry AMD.

The company said that currently there is no therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat dry AMD.


Image: Picture of the fundus showing intermediate age-related macular degeneration. Photo: courtesy of Dcirovic