Diabetic Macular EdemaPhase 3NCT00168337

A Study of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema

A Phase 3 study testing Dexamethasone in people with Diabetic Macular Edema, run by Allergan at 14 sites in 14 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

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Trial summary

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of an intravitreal implant of dexamethasone for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for: Diabetic Macular Edema
What is being tested?: Dexamethasone
Type of treatment: Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?: Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people: 554 participants
Where: 14 sitesin 14 countries
Study dates: May 2005to May 2012
Phase: Phase 3
Are there results?: Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 18 years and older
All sexes
No healthy volunteers
Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

18 years of age or older with diabetic macular edema;
Decrease in visual acuity in at least one eye as a result of macular edema (20/50 or worse);
Visual acuity in other eye no worse than 20/200

Who cannot join

Known anticipated need for ocular surgery within next 12 months;
History of glaucoma or current high eye pressure requiring more than 1 medication;
Uncontrolled systemic disease;
Known steroid-responder;
Use of systemic steroids;
Use of Warfarin/Heparin

Trial locations and contacts

14 sites in 14 countries.

Country

City, postcode or hospital

14 sites in 14 countries

United States1 site

Study site
Artesia, California

Other trials in United States

Brazil1 site

Study site
São Paulo

Other trials in Brazil

Canada1 site

Study site
Mississauga, Ontario

Other trials in Canada

Colombia1 site

Study site
Bogotá

Other trials in Colombia

France1 site

Study site
Dijon

Other trials in France

Hungary1 site

Study site
Budapest

Other trials in Hungary

India1 site

Study site
New Delhi

Other trials in India

Italy1 site

Study site
Milan

Other trials in Italy

New Zealand1 site

Study site
Auckland

Other trials in New Zealand

Poland1 site

Study site
Warsaw

Other trials in Poland

Singapore1 site

Study site
Singapore

Other trials in Singapore

South Korea1 site

Study site
Seoul

Other trials in South Korea

Taiwan1 site

Study site
Taipei

Other trials in Taiwan

United Kingdom1 site

Study site
London

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of an intravitreal implant of dexamethasone for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Conditions: Diabetic Macular Edema
Being tested: Dexamethasone, Sham

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

DexamethasoneDrug
Also called Posurdex®, Ozurdex®
350 µg or 700 µg dexamethasone posterior segment drug delivery system - injection into the vitreous cavity not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months.
ShamOther
Sham posterior segment drug delivery system-needle-less drug delivery system without study medication not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months.

Study groups in NCT00168337
Study group	Role	What they receive
Dexamethasone 700 μg	Experimental	700 µg Dexamethasone posterior segment drug delivery system - injection into the vitreous cavity not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months. Receives: Drug: Dexamethasone
Dexamethasone 350 μg	Experimental	350 µg Dexamethasone posterior segment drug delivery system - injection into the vitreous cavity not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months. Receives: Drug: Dexamethasone
Sham	Sham comparator	Sham posterior segment drug delivery system - needle-less drug delivery system without study medication not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months. Receives: Other: Sham

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Percentage of Patients With a Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) Improvement of ≥15 Letters From Baseline in the Study Eye
BCVA is measured using an eye chart and is reported as the number of letters read correctly (ranging from 0 to 100 letters) in the study eye. The lower the number of letters read correctly on the eye chart, the worse the vision (or visual acuity). An increase in the number of letters read correctly indicates improvement and a decrease in the number of letters read correctly indicates a worsening.
Measured: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit

Secondary outcomes (4)

Average Change From Baseline in BCVA in the Study Eye
BCVA is measured using an eye chart and is reported as the number of letters read correctly (ranging from 0 to 100 letters) in the study eye. The lower the number of letters read correctly on the eye chart, the worse the vision (or visual acuity). The average BCVA is calculated across study visits for each patient. A positive number change from baseline indicates an improvement and a negative number change from baseline indicates a worsening.
Measured: Baseline, 39 Months
Change From Baseline in BCVA in the Study Eye
BCVA is measured using an eye chart and is reported as the number of letters read correctly (ranging from 0 to 100 letters) in the study eye. The lower the number of letters read correctly on the eye chart, the worse the vision (or visual acuity). A positive number change from baseline indicates an improvement and a negative number change from baseline indicates a worsening.
Measured: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit
Percentage of Patients With a BCVA Improvement of ≥10 Letters From Baseline in the Study Eye
BCVA is measured using an eye chart and is reported as the number of letters read correctly (ranging from 0 to 100 letters) in the study eye. The lower the number of letters read correctly on the eye chart, the worse the vision (or visual acuity). An increase in the number of letters read correctly indicates improvement and a decrease in the number of letters read correctly indicates a worsening.
Measured: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit
Change From Baseline in Retinal Thickness as Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
OCT is a laser-based, noninvasive, diagnostic system that provides high-resolution, three-dimensional images of the retina from which retinal thickness can be measured. A negative number change from baseline indicates an improvement and a positive number change from baseline indicates a worsening.
Measured: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

May 2005May 2012

First posted15 Sep 2005 (estimated)
Study startMay 2005
Primary completionMay 2012
Study completionMay 2012

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
Other trials for Diabetic Macular EdemaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 3
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Quadruple blind
Who is masked: Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment: 554 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00168337
Sponsor's protocol ID: 206207-011
Status last verified: Jul 2014
First submitted: 12 Sep 2005
Last updated: 4 Aug 2014
Results posted: Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
Data monitoring committee: No

Publications

Blinder KJ, Wykoff CC, Ferencz JR, Ehlers JP, Fang Y, Lai H, Ogidigben M, Lopez FJ. IMPACT OF THE DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT ON SLOWING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY PROGRESSION: Post Hoc Analysis of the MEAD Study. Retina. 2025 Dec 1;45(12):2252-2262. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004623.
PubMed 40712145
Kozak I, Do DV, Lai H, Ogidigben MJ, Lopez FJ. Time-in-Range Analysis of Responses after Intravitreal Dexamethasone Therapy in Eyes with Diabetic Macular Edema. Ophthalmol Sci. 2025 May 26;5(5):100833. doi: 10.1016/j.xops.2025.100833. eCollection 2025 Sep-Oct.
PubMed 40688490
Valentim CCS, Lai H, Ogidigben MJ, Singh RP, Talcott KE. Baseline factors affecting diabetic macular oedema resolution after intravitreal dexamethasone implant treatment: post hoc analysis of the MEAD study. BMC Ophthalmol. 2025 Jul 9;25(1):403. doi: 10.1186/s12886-025-04208-3.
PubMed 40634898
Rittiphairoj T, Mir TA, Li T, Virgili G. Intravitreal steroids for macular edema in diabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Nov 17;11(11):CD005656. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005656.pub3.
PubMed 33206392
Yoon YH, Boyer DS, Maturi RK, Bandello F, Belfort R Jr, Augustin AJ, Li XY, Bai Z, Hashad Y; Ozurdex MEAD Study Group. Natural history of diabetic macular edema and factors predicting outcomes in sham-treated patients (MEAD study). Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2019 Dec;257(12):2639-2653. doi: 10.1007/s00417-019-04464-2. Epub 2019 Oct 25.
PubMed 31654188
Danis RP, Sadda S, Li XY, Cui H, Hashad Y, Whitcup SM. Anatomical effects of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in diabetic macular oedema: a pooled analysis of 3-year phase III trials. Br J Ophthalmol. 2016 Jun;100(6):796-801. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-306823. Epub 2015 Nov 18.
PubMed 26581718
Augustin AJ, Kuppermann BD, Lanzetta P, Loewenstein A, Li XY, Cui H, Hashad Y, Whitcup SM; Ozurdex MEAD Study Group. Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in previously treated patients with diabetic macular edema: subgroup analysis of the MEAD study. BMC Ophthalmol. 2015 Oct 30;15:150. doi: 10.1186/s12886-015-0148-2.
PubMed 26519345

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

Active, not recruitingObservational study
Real World Evidence in China: Faricimab Use in Diabetic Macular Edema, Retinal Vein Occlusion, and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (The Farseeing Study)
Diabetic Macular Edema, Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
RecruitingPhase 3
A Phase 3 Trial for Intravitreal Injection of 4D-150 in Adults With Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
RecruitingPhase 2
Oral N-Acetylcysteine on Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
CAPRI: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Masked Study Comparing the Efficacy of EYP-1901 Against Aflibercept in DME
Diabetic Macular Edema, DME
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
COMO: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Masked Study Comparing the Efficacy of EYP-1901 Against Aflibercept in DME
Diabetic Macular Edema, DME

All Diabetic Macular Edema trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Aug 2014. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: A Study of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00168337
Acronym / sponsor ID: 206207-011
Conditions: Diabetic Macular Edema
Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 554 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: AllerganIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
Study start: May 2005
Primary completion: May 2012 (actual)
Study completion: May 2012 (actual)
First posted: 15 Sep 2005 (estimated)
Results: Posted 4 Aug 2014

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of an intravitreal implant of dexamethasone for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
Number of arms: 3

Arm	Type	Receives
Dexamethasone 700 μg	Experimental	Drug: Dexamethasone700 µg Dexamethasone posterior segment drug delivery system - injection into the vitreous cavity not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months.
Dexamethasone 350 μg	Experimental	Drug: Dexamethasone350 µg Dexamethasone posterior segment drug delivery system - injection into the vitreous cavity not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months.
Sham	Sham comparator	Other: ShamSham posterior segment drug delivery system - needle-less drug delivery system without study medication not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months.

Who may qualify

Ages: 18 years and older
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Not accepted
Age groups: Adult, Older adult

Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)

18 years of age or older with diabetic macular edema;
Decrease in visual acuity in at least one eye as a result of macular edema (20/50 or worse);
Visual acuity in other eye no worse than 20/200

Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)

Known anticipated need for ocular surgery within next 12 months;
History of glaucoma or current high eye pressure requiring more than 1 medication;
Uncontrolled systemic disease;
Known steroid-responder;
Use of systemic steroids;

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
DexamethasoneAlso: Posurdex®, Ozurdex®350 µg or 700 µg dexamethasone posterior segment drug delivery system - injection into the vitreous cavity not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months.	Drug	Dexamethasone 350 μg, Dexamethasone 700 μg
ShamSham posterior segment drug delivery system-needle-less drug delivery system without study medication not less than every 6 months for up to 36 months.	Other	Sham

Primary outcome

Percentage of Patients With a Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) Improvement of ≥15 Letters From Baseline in the Study Eye
Time frame: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit
BCVA is measured using an eye chart and is reported as the number of letters read correctly (ranging from 0 to 100 letters) in the study eye. The lower the number of letters read correctly on the eye chart, the worse the vision (or visual acuity). An increase in the number of letters read correctly indicates improvement and a decrease in the number of letters read correctly indicates a worsening.

4 secondary outcomes

Average Change From Baseline in BCVA in the Study Eye
Time frame: Baseline, 39 Months
Change From Baseline in BCVA in the Study Eye
Time frame: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit
Percentage of Patients With a BCVA Improvement of ≥10 Letters From Baseline in the Study Eye
Time frame: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit
Change From Baseline in Retinal Thickness as Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Time frame: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit

Results and safety

Results posted to the registry on 4 Aug 2014, as reported by the sponsor. Figures are copied from the record, not re-analysed. Full results on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Participant flow

Group	Started	Completed
Dexamethasone 700 μg	188	118
Dexamethasone 350 μg	181	112
Sham	185	82

Primary outcome: Percentage of Patients With a Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) Improvement of ≥15 Letters From Baseline in the Study Eye

Time frame: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit. Number. Unit: Percentage of Patients

Measure	Dexamethasone 700 μg n = 188	Dexamethasone 350 μg n = 181	Sham n = 185
Value	22.3	18.2	10.8

Population analysed: Intent to Treat: all randomized patients

4 secondary outcomes are reported in the full results.

Adverse events

Other adverse events reported at 5% frequency or more

Group	Serious adverse events	Other adverse events	Deaths
Dexamethasone 700 μg	63 of 187 (33.7%)	180 of 187 (96.3%)	Not reported
Dexamethasone 350 μg	68 of 178 (38.2%)	172 of 178 (96.6%)	Not reported
Sham	49 of 186 (26.3%)	157 of 186 (84.4%)	Not reported

Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Aug 2014.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
Derived from this study: PubMed 40712145Blinder KJ, Wykoff CC, Ferencz JR, Ehlers JP, Fang Y, Lai H, Ogidigben M, Lopez FJ. IMPACT OF THE DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT ON SLOWING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY PROGRESSION: Post Hoc Analysis of the MEAD Study. Retina. 2025 Dec 1;45(12):2252-2262. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004623.
Derived from this study: PubMed 40688490Kozak I, Do DV, Lai H, Ogidigben MJ, Lopez FJ. Time-in-Range Analysis of Responses after Intravitreal Dexamethasone Therapy in Eyes with Diabetic Macular Edema. Ophthalmol Sci. 2025 May 26;5(5):100833. doi: 10.1016/j.xops.2025.100833. eCollection 2025 Sep-Oct.
Derived from this study: PubMed 40634898Valentim CCS, Lai H, Ogidigben MJ, Singh RP, Talcott KE. Baseline factors affecting diabetic macular oedema resolution after intravitreal dexamethasone implant treatment: post hoc analysis of the MEAD study. BMC Ophthalmol. 2025 Jul 9;25(1):403. doi: 10.1186/s12886-025-04208-3.
Derived from this study: PubMed 33206392Rittiphairoj T, Mir TA, Li T, Virgili G. Intravitreal steroids for macular edema in diabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Nov 17;11(11):CD005656. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005656.pub3.
Derived from this study: PubMed 31654188Yoon YH, Boyer DS, Maturi RK, Bandello F, Belfort R Jr, Augustin AJ, Li XY, Bai Z, Hashad Y; Ozurdex MEAD Study Group. Natural history of diabetic macular edema and factors predicting outcomes in sham-treated patients (MEAD study). Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2019 Dec;257(12):2639-2653. doi: 10.1007/s00417-019-04464-2. Epub 2019 Oct 25.
Derived from this study: PubMed 26581718Danis RP, Sadda S, Li XY, Cui H, Hashad Y, Whitcup SM. Anatomical effects of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in diabetic macular oedema: a pooled analysis of 3-year phase III trials. Br J Ophthalmol. 2016 Jun;100(6):796-801. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-306823. Epub 2015 Nov 18.
Derived from this study: PubMed 26519345Augustin AJ, Kuppermann BD, Lanzetta P, Loewenstein A, Li XY, Cui H, Hashad Y, Whitcup SM; Ozurdex MEAD Study Group. Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in previously treated patients with diabetic macular edema: subgroup analysis of the MEAD study. BMC Ophthalmol. 2015 Oct 30;15:150. doi: 10.1186/s12886-015-0148-2.

Related trials for Diabetic Macular Edema

Active, not recruitingObservational study
Real World Evidence in China: Faricimab Use in Diabetic Macular Edema, Retinal Vein Occlusion, and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (The Farseeing Study)
Diabetic Macular Edema, Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
RecruitingPhase 3
A Phase 3 Trial for Intravitreal Injection of 4D-150 in Adults With Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
RecruitingPhase 2
Oral N-Acetylcysteine on Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
CAPRI: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Masked Study Comparing the Efficacy of EYP-1901 Against Aflibercept in DME
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Active, not recruitingPhase 3
COMO: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Masked Study Comparing the Efficacy of EYP-1901 Against Aflibercept in DME
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Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Medical Director study director

Allergan

14 sites in 14 countries: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Dexamethasone in people with Diabetic Macular Edema, run by Allergan at 14 sites in 14 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Aug 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 14 sites in United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France and 9 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 4 Aug 2014). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percentage of Patients With a Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) Improvement of ≥15 Letters From Baseline in the Study Eye (time frame: Baseline, Month 39/Final Visit). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00168337, which also lists 7 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Aug 2014; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.