Diabetic Macular EdemaPhase 4DEUTERONNCT06591598
A Study to Learn About the Blood Levels of Aflibercept When High-dose Aflibercept is Injected in Both Eyes of Participants With Diabetic Macular Edema or Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
A Phase 4 study testing Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea) in people with Diabetic Macular Edema and Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration, run by Bayer at 6 sites in 3 countries.
Trial summary
Researchers are looking for a better way to treat participants who have diabetic macular edema (DME) or neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). DME is a diabetes-related eye disorder. In DME, the macula swells up due to fluid leakage from damaged blood vessels, resulting in vision problems. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Diabetic Macular Edema, Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
- What is being tested?
- Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea)
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 51 participants
- Where
- 6 sitesin 3 countries
- Study dates
- 2 Sep 2024to 14 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Phase 4
- 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
- Men or women ≥18 years of age (or country's legal age of adulthood if the legal age is >18 years).
- Participants (treatment naïve or previously treated) requiring intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in both eyes in the opinion of the investigator.
- Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus and DME in both eyes with active central involvement (CI-DME) in at least one eye with central retinal thickness (CRT) ≥300 µm (or ≥320 µm on Spectralis) as determined by the investigator at the screening visit, OR diagnosis of nAMD in both eyes with active subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in at least one eye with intraretinal fluid (IRF) and/or subretinal fluid (SRF) on OCT as determined by the investigator at the screening visit.
- Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score of 78 to 24 (approximate Snellen equivalent of 20/32 to 20/320) in eyes with active disease and decreased vision determined to be primarily the result of DME or nAMD.
- A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or men who are sexually active with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use highly effective contraception prior to the initial dose/start of the first treatment, during the study, and for at least 4 months after the last administration of study intervention.
Who cannot join
- Evidence of macular edema due to any cause other than diabetes mellitus in patients with DME or neovascular age-related macular degeneration in patients with nAMD in either eye.
- Active proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) in either eye.
- Panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) or macular laser photocoagulation in either eye with CI-DME or active nAMD within 12 weeks (84 days) of the screening visit.
- Prior treatment with intravitreal (IVT) 2 mg aflibercept (EYLEA) in either eye within 12 weeks (84 days) of the screening visit or with IVT 8 mg or HD aflibercept in either eye within 24 weeks (168 days) of the screening visit.
- Prior treatment with any other approved IVT agent with anti-VEGF effect (e.g. ranibizumab, bevacizumab, brolucizumab, faricimab, pegaptanib sodium or biosimilars) in either eye within 4 weeks (28 days) of the screening visit.
- Prior treatment with any ocular gene or cell therapy treatment in either eye.
- Previous use of intraocular or periocular corticosteroids in either eye within 16 weeks (112 days) of the screening visit, or OZURDEX® implant within 180 days of the screening visit or ILUVIEN® or RETISERT® implant at any time
Trial locations and contacts
6 sites in 3 countries.
6 sites in 3 countries
Czechia2 sites
Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady - Urologická klinikay
Prague, 10034
Axon Clinical, s.r.o.
Prague, 150 00
Hungary2 sites
Budapest Retina Associates
Budapest, 1133
Debreceni Egyetem Klinikai Kozpont
Debrecen, 4032
Slovakia2 sites
Univerzitna nemocnica Bratislava, Nem. Sv. Cyrila a Metoda
Bratislava, 851 07
Fakultna nemocnica s poliklinikou Zilina
Žilina, 012 07
About this study
Official title: An Open-label, Non-randomized, Multi-center, Phase 4 Pharmacokinetic Study to Evaluate the Systemic Exposure After Bilateral Intravitreal Administration of High Dose (8 mg) Aflibercept in Adults With Diabetic Macular Edema or Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
Researchers are looking for a better way to treat participants who have diabetic macular edema (DME) or neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
DME is a diabetes-related eye disorder. In DME, the macula swells up due to fluid leakage from damaged blood vessels, resulting in vision problems. DME is a leading cause of vision loss in working age adults. nAMD is an eye disorder that causes vision loss due to the growth of abnormal blood vessels that leak blood or retinal fluid into the macula (the central part of the retina). nAMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people aged 50 and older.
Read more
The study treatment Aflibercept (also called BAY 86-5321) is a drug that blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which causes abnormal growth and leakage of blood vessels at the back of the eye.
The main purpose of this study is to to collect more information on the blood levels of aflibercept when 8 mg aflibercept is injected in both eyes of participants with DME or nAMD.
For this, the researchers will analyze Maximum observed concentration (Cmax): the highest amount of aflibercept in participants' blood will be measured after multiple doses of aflibercept during the study.
Participants will receive 8 mg aflibercept as injections into the vitreous cavity (jelly-like substance that fills the centre of the eye) of both eyes.
Participants will be divided into three groups and will receive initial and maintenance injections of 8 mg aflibercept in both eyes. Researchers will closely monitor the health of the participants during the study.
During the study, the doctors and their study team will:
- take blood and urine samples
- do physical examinations
- examine heart health using electrocardiogram (ECG)
- check vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature
- ask the participants questions about how they are feeling and what adverse events they are having.
An adverse event is any medical problem that a participant has during a study. Doctors keep track of all adverse events, irrespective if they think it is related or not to the study treatments.
- Being tested
- Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea)
- Keywords
- Diabetic macular edema (DME), Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD)
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea)Drug
Also called BAY86-5321, Eylea HD
8 mg, intravitreal injection
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Regimen 1 | Experimental | 15 participants will be assigned to Regimen 1. Regimen 1 participants will be administered 8 mg aflibercept injections according to the Regimen 1 dosing schedule. Receives: Drug: Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea) |
| Regimen 2 | Experimental | Up to 15 participants will be assigned to Regimen 2. Regimen 2 participants will be administered 8 mg aflibercept injections according to the Regimen 2 dosing schedule. Receives: Drug: Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea) |
| Regimen 3 | Experimental | Up to 15 participants will be assigned to Regimen 3. Regimen 3 participants will be administered 8 mg aflibercept injections according to the Regimen 3 dosing schedule. Receives: Drug: Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximum Observed Concentration (Cmax) of Free Aflibercept
Cmax was defined as the maximum observed plasma concentration of free aflibercept for each participant during the regimen-specific semi-dense pharmacokinetic sampling period. Concentrations were assessed at pre-dose and at Days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the relevant aflibercept administration. The relevant administration was the baseline bilateral administration for Regimen 1, the third same-day bilateral administration at Week 8 for Regimen 2, and the third administration to the second eye for Regimen 3, administered one week after the third administration to the first eye. For each regimen, the highest observed concentration across these sampling points was selected as the participant's Cmax. Participant-level Cmax values were summarized by treatment regimen.
Measured: From pre-dose through 28 days after the regimen-specific aflibercept administration used for Cmax determination
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Sep 2024
- Study start2 Sep 2024
- Primary completion14 Oct 2025
- Study completion14 Oct 2025
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.
- Other trials for Diabetic Macular EdemaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by BayerThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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 4
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bayer
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06591598
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 22578
- Other IDs
- 2024-511665-11-00
- Acronym
- DEUTERON
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Sep 2024
- Last updated
- 3 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Availability of this study's data will later be determined according to Bayer's commitment to the EFPIA/PhRMA "Principles for responsible clinical trial data sharing". This pertains to scope, timepoint and process of data access. As such, Bayer commits to sharing upon request from qualified researchers patient-level clinical trial data, study-level clinical trial data, and protocols from clinical trials in patients for medicines and indications approved in the US and EU as necessary for conducting legitimate research. This applies to data on new medicines and indications that have been approved by the EU and US regulatory agencies on or after January 01, 2014. Interested researchers can use www.vivli.org to request access to anonymized patient-level data and supporting documents from clinical studies to conduct research. Information on the Bayer criteria for listing studies and other relevant information is provided in the member section of the portal.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Open-label, Non-randomized, Multi-center, Phase 4 Pharmacokinetic Study to Evaluate the Systemic Exposure After Bilateral Intravitreal Administration of High Dose (8 mg) Aflibercept in Adults With Diabetic Macular Edema or Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06591598
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DEUTERON / 22578
- Keywords
- Diabetic macular edema (DME), Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD)
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- BayerIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
- Study start
- 2 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 14 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 3 Nov 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Researchers are looking for a better way to treat participants who have diabetic macular edema (DME) or neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
DME is a diabetes-related eye disorder. In DME, the macula swells up due to fluid leakage from damaged blood vessels, resulting in vision problems. DME is a leading cause of vision loss in working age adults. nAMD is an eye disorder that causes vision loss due to the growth of abnormal blood vessels that leak blood or retinal fluid into the macula (the central part of the retina). nAMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people aged 50 and older.
The study treatment Aflibercept (also called BAY 86-5321) is a drug that blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which causes abnormal growth and leakage of blood vessels at the back of the eye.
The main purpose of this study is to to collect more information on the blood levels of aflibercept when 8 mg aflibercept is injected in both eyes of participants with DME or nAMD.
For this, the researchers will analyze Maximum observed concentration (Cmax): the highest amount of aflibercept in participants' blood will be measured after multiple doses of aflibercept during the study.
Participants will receive 8 mg aflibercept as injections into the vitreous cavity (jelly-like substance that fills the centre of the eye) of both eyes.
Participants will be divided into three groups and will receive initial and maintenance injections of 8 mg aflibercept in both eyes. Researchers will closely monitor the health of the participants during the study.
During the study, the doctors and their study team will:
- take blood and urine samples
- do physical examinations
- examine heart health using electrocardiogram (ECG)
- check vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature
- ask the participants questions about how they are feeling and what adverse events they are having.
An adverse event is any medical problem that a participant has during a study. Doctors keep track of all adverse events, irrespective if they think it is related or not to the study treatments.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Regimen 1 | Experimental | Drug: Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea)15 participants will be assigned to Regimen 1. Regimen 1 participants will be administered 8 mg aflibercept injections according to the Regimen 1 dosing schedule. |
| Regimen 2 | Experimental | Drug: Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea)Up to 15 participants will be assigned to Regimen 2. Regimen 2 participants will be administered 8 mg aflibercept injections according to the Regimen 2 dosing schedule. |
| Regimen 3 | Experimental | Drug: Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea)Up to 15 participants will be assigned to Regimen 3. Regimen 3 participants will be administered 8 mg aflibercept injections according to the Regimen 3 dosing schedule. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Men or women ≥18 years of age (or country's legal age of adulthood if the legal age is >18 years).
- Participants (treatment naïve or previously treated) requiring intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in both eyes in the opinion of the investigator.
- Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus and DME in both eyes with active central involvement (CI-DME) in at least one eye with central retinal thickness (CRT) ≥300 µm (or ≥320 µm on Spectralis) as determined by the investigator at the screening visit, OR diagnosis of nAMD in both eyes with active subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in at least one eye with intraretinal fluid (IRF) and/or subretinal fluid (SRF) on OCT as determined by the investigator at the screening visit.
- Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score of 78 to 24 (approximate Snellen equivalent of 20/32 to 20/320) in eyes with active disease and decreased vision determined to be primarily the result of DME or nAMD.
- A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or men who are sexually active with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use highly effective contraception prior to the initial dose/start of the first treatment, during the study, and for at least 4 months after the last administration of study intervention.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Evidence of macular edema due to any cause other than diabetes mellitus in patients with DME or neovascular age-related macular degeneration in patients with nAMD in either eye.
- Active proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) in either eye.
- Panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) or macular laser photocoagulation in either eye with CI-DME or active nAMD within 12 weeks (84 days) of the screening visit.
- Prior treatment with intravitreal (IVT) 2 mg aflibercept (EYLEA) in either eye within 12 weeks (84 days) of the screening visit or with IVT 8 mg or HD aflibercept in either eye within 24 weeks (168 days) of the screening visit.
- Prior treatment with any other approved IVT agent with anti-VEGF effect (e.g. ranibizumab, bevacizumab, brolucizumab, faricimab, pegaptanib sodium or biosimilars) in either eye within 4 weeks (28 days) of the screening visit.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea)Also: BAY86-5321, Eylea HD8 mg, intravitreal injection | Drug | Regimen 1, Regimen 2, Regimen 3 |
Primary outcome
Maximum Observed Concentration (Cmax) of Free Aflibercept
Time frame: From pre-dose through 28 days after the regimen-specific aflibercept administration used for Cmax determination
Cmax was defined as the maximum observed plasma concentration of free aflibercept for each participant during the regimen-specific semi-dense pharmacokinetic sampling period. Concentrations were assessed at pre-dose and at Days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the relevant aflibercept administration. The relevant administration was the baseline bilateral administration for Regimen 1, the third same-day bilateral administration at Week 8 for Regimen 2, and the third administration to the second eye for Regimen 3, administered one week after the third administration to the first eye. For each regimen, the highest observed concentration across these sampling points was selected as the participant's Cmax. Participant-level Cmax values were summarized by treatment regimen.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Nov 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Availability of this study's data will later be determined according to Bayer's commitment to the EFPIA/PhRMA "Principles for responsible clinical trial data sharing". This pertains to scope, timepoint and process of data access. As such, Bayer commits to sharing upon request from qualified researchers patient-level clinical trial data, study-level clinical trial data, and protocols from clinical trials in patients for medicines and indications approved in the US and EU as necessary for conducting legitimate research. This applies to data on new medicines and indications that have been approved by the EU and US regulatory agencies on or after January 01, 2014. Interested researchers can use www.vivli.org to request access to anonymized patient-level data and supporting documents from clinical studies to conduct research. Information on the Bayer criteria for listing studies and other relevant information is provided in the member section of the portal.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
6 sites in 3 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Aflibercept (BAY86-5321, Eylea) in people with Diabetic Macular Edema and Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration, run by Bayer at 6 sites in 3 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 5 inclusion and 7 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 3 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 6 sites in Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia. 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. 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 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
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 3 Nov 2026). 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?
Maximum Observed Concentration (Cmax) of Free Aflibercept (time frame: From pre-dose through 28 days after the regimen-specific aflibercept administration used for Cmax determination). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 3 Nov 2026.