Southwest Retinal Research Center Durango, CO
Current Clinical Trials for Blinding Retinal Conditions
In 2018, Southwest Eye Consultants founded Southwest Retinal Research Center in Durango, Colorado. We are a clinical site for national and international medical trials investigating new therapeutics for blinding retinal conditions. Results from these studies will have a significant impact on the visual health of our patients here in the Four Corners region and for patients around the world.
This includes comprehensive research on:
- New treatment options for a variety of common and complex eye diseases
- The efficacy and safety of medication for age-related macular degeneration
- The effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) software for the detection of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema
- Alternatives to regular injections for wet macular degeneration
- And much more
Currently, our research team is involved in several studies:
Archway is a Phase III multicenter, randomized, active-comparator study of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the port delivery system with ranibizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Today’s standard is to perform monthly intravitreal injections in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
This surgically placed port relieves treatment burden on the patient by a reservoir that slowly eludes ranibizumab into the patient’s eye. The port has shown a patient treatment period lasting anywhere from 6 to 15 months.
Altissimo is a Phase IIb multicenter dose-ranging study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a long-acting intravitreal sunitinib malate depot formulation (GB-102) compared to intravitreal aflibercept in subjects with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration.
This study, like Archway, is based on decreasing treatment burden for patients with wet macular degeneration.
This new, non-FDA approved intraocular injection has relieved patient treatment to once every three months in the previous Phase I study.
Apellis is a Phase III multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled study to compare the efficacy and safety of an intravitreal APL-2 therapy with sham injection in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration.
This study is testing a new intraocular treatment to reduce the growth of geographic atrophy in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration.
Gallego is a Phase II, multicenter, randomized, single-masked, sham-controlled study to access safety, tolerability, and efficacy of intravitreal injections of FHTR2163 in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration.
Currently, there is no treatment for GA secondary to AMD. Apellis and Gallego are both studies testing the efficacy of different therapeutic options for this condition.
Optos is a Sequoia prospective retinal image collection study to support training of Sequoia software for the detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
This imaging study is working with a new device called the NFC-700 and providers from around the globe to show if artificial intelligence in the machine can help diagnose patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema without the need for dilation.
All of the above studies are Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials, phase 3 being the final stage before FDA approval can be granted.
Medical and Surgical Eye Care for Eye Conditions
Based in Durango, with satellite offices in Cortez, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico, we serve a diverse population of the Four Corners region by providing state-of-the-art medical and surgical eye care. Our specialty involves caring for conditions such as:
- Cataracts
- Pterygium
- Pinguecula
- Blepharitis
- Dry Eye Disease
- Floaters and Spots
- Conjunctivitis
- Chalazia or Styes
- Migraine with Visual Aura
- Corneal Infections
- Eyelid Disorders
- Optic Nerve Disorders
In addition, the Retinal Research Center provides research participants with access to medications and state-of-the-art devices that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Participants, who are recruited from among our own patients and other clinics in the area, receive treatment for free and are reimbursed for their travel.
Southwest Eye Consultants already serves many patients with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, making the work being conducted at our Retinal Research Center of keen interest to those patients who have seen limited success with currently available therapy.
Ordinarily, clinical trials such as those taking place at Southwest Retinal Research Center would only be conducted in major cities, making our center the only one of its kind in the Four Corners region. And because we serve such a large geographical area including patients from Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, our research center has drawn sponsorship from major biotechnology corporations like Genentech.
Future clinical trials at the Southwest Retinal Research Center may focus on inherited retinal disease, inflammatory eye disease, and retinal vascular occlusion.
Contributing to the Advancement of Medical Treatments
Established in 2018, Southwest Retina Research Center serves the Four Corners area as the region’s only ophthalmic research site and participates in clinical trials for new investigational treatments, including gene therapies and implantable devices for diseases such as Macular Degeneration (wet and dry), Diabetic Retinopathy, and Glaucoma.
Clinical trials advance medical treatment options and are critical to ensuring the safety of new drugs and devices. Some studies, called observational studies, collect long-term data on the progression of a disease to learn more about the disease itself but do not test any new treatments.
We conduct Phases I-IV clinical trials as well as observational studies. Over the years, the Research Center has participated in over 20 different clinical trials for various drugs and devices in different treatment areas. We have seen several treatments from studies we participated in gain FDA approval and become commercially available. Our participation in clinical research contributes to advancing knowledge of treating diseases and offers research patients experimental treatment options.
What are the Different Types of Clinical Trials?
If you are interested in learning more or becoming a research patient, please contact the Research Center at (970) 828-2200, option 5, or speak with your Southwest Eye doctor at your next appointment.
