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Disease
Macular Degeneration
Late-stage therapeutic developmentEmerging researchRising momentum
13
Publications
24
Clinical trials
7
Related conditions
12
Associated genes
8
Related proteins
2024
Latest publication
Current focus
Complement c3 biologyComplement c5 biologyTherapeutic developmentInflammation & immunityMetabolic & lifestyle factorsDisease mechanisms & pathology
Latest activity
betaRecent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.
Clinical trial2026-09-25Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial2026-09-14Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial2026-09-14Entered late-stage (PHASE2/PHASE3) · ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial2026-08-17Status changed to Active, not recruiting · ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial2026-08-10Status changed to Terminated · ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial2026-07-16Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov
Research2024-07-04International journal of molecular sciences
Gut microbiota and eye diseases: a bibliometric study and visualization analysis.
Research2023-08-09Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
What's happening now
An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.
Executive briefingUpdating summary…Momentum: Moderate
Key developments
- 6 clinical trials expected to report results, the earliest in Q1 2028.
- 12 industry developments reported.
Upcoming Milestones
- Q1 2028A Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Subretinal Injection of LX102 in Participants With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration - The STELLAR Trial
- Q3 2028A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Subcutaneously Administered Pozelimab in Combination With Cemdisiran or Cemdisiran Alone in Participants With Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Q4 2028Efficacy and Durability of a Personalized Treat-and-extend Regimen of Faricimab for Treatment-naive Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy
- Q4 2028Efficacy of Faricimab in Patients With Subretinal Hyperreflective Material Associated With Type 2 or Mixed Neovascular Membranes Assessed by Multimodal Imaging
- Q4 2028Vitrectomy, Subretinal Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Intravitreal Gas for Submacular Haemorrhage Secondary to Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (TIGER): a Phase 3, Pan-European, Two-group, Observer-masked, Superiority, Randomised Controlled Surgical Trial.
Major developments
Upcoming trial readoutHigh impact
Results expected Q3 20282026-10-13
Upcoming trial readoutHigh impact
Results expected Q4 20282026-09-11
CHMP positive opinion (EU decision pending)High impact
Treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other visual impairments in adults2026-10-16
Clinical MilestonesViewHide
Results expected
- 2026-10-13A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Subcutaneously Administered Pozelimab in Combination With Cemdisiran or Cemdisiran Alone in Participants With Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular DegenerationResults expected Q3 2028
- 2026-09-11Vitrectomy, Subretinal Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Intravitreal Gas for Submacular Haemorrhage Secondary to Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (TIGER): a Phase 3, Pan-European, Two-group, Observer-masked, Superiority, Randomised Controlled Surgical Trial.Results expected Q4 2028
- 2026-08-14A Randomized, Controlled, Partially Masked, Phase 3b Study to Assess the Injection Burden, Efficacy, Safety, and Long-Term Preservation of Visual Acuity of Surabgene Lomparvovec (ABBV-RGX-314) in a Real-World Context in Subjects With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD)Results expected Q1 2033
- 2026-08-06A Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Subretinal Injection of LX102 in Participants With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration - The STELLAR TrialResults expected Q1 2028
- 2026-05-28Efficacy of Faricimab in Patients With Subretinal Hyperreflective Material Associated With Type 2 or Mixed Neovascular Membranes Assessed by Multimodal ImagingResults expected Q4 2028
Recently completed
Industry & MarketView all 12Hide
- 2026-09-30Comment on “Cost-Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation for Intermediate Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Model-Based Analysis Using the LIGHTSITE III 24-Month Trial”Trial news · American Journal of Ophthalmology
- 2026-10-27Topical peptide eye drop promising for wet age-related macular degenerationIndustry · Healio Ophthalmology
- 2026-09-22Does Cataract Surgery Accelerate the Progression to Late Age-related Macular Degeneration?Industry · Ophthalmology (AAO)
- 2026-07-24Cost-Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation for Intermediate Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Model-Based Analysis Using the LIGHTSITE III 24-Month TrialTrial news · American Journal of Ophthalmology
- 2026-07-25Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist and Age-related Macular Degeneration: Adding to the StoryIndustry · Ophthalmology (AAO)
+7 more in the activity timeline below
Regulatory UpdatesViewHide
- 2026-10-16CHMP positive opinion — RanibizumabTreatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other visual impairments in adults
- 2026-07-24CHMP positive opinion — RanibizumabTreatment of adults with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
- 2026-07-15Biosimilar approval — RanibizumabVislyfa is indicated in adults for: The treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) The treatment of visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) The treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) The treatment of visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO) The treatment of visual impairment due to choroidal neovascularisation (CNV)
Activity timeline23
- 2026-10-27IndustryTopical peptide eye drop promising for wet age-related macular degenerationIndustry · Healio Ophthalmology
- 2026-10-19IndustryRisk Factors for Retinal Pigment Epithelium Tears in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisIndustry · American Journal of Ophthalmology
- 2026-10-16RegulatoryCHMP positive opinion — RanibizumabTreatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other visual impairments in adults
- 2026-10-13ClinicalA Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Subcutaneously Administered Pozelimab in Combination With Cemdisiran or Cemdisiran Alone in Participants With Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular DegenerationResults expected Q3 2028
- 2026-09-30IndustryComment on “Cost-Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation for Intermediate Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Model-Based Analysis Using the LIGHTSITE III 24-Month Trial”Trial news · American Journal of Ophthalmology
- 2026-09-22IndustryDoes Cataract Surgery Accelerate the Progression to Late Age-related Macular Degeneration?Industry · Ophthalmology (AAO)
- 2026-09-11ClinicalVitrectomy, Subretinal Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Intravitreal Gas for Submacular Haemorrhage Secondary to Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (TIGER): a Phase 3, Pan-European, Two-group, Observer-masked, Superiority, Randomised Controlled Surgical Trial.Results expected Q4 2028
- 2026-08-28IndustryEarly Versus Delayed Pegcetacoplan Treatment for Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration in OAKS, DERBY, and GALEIndustry · American Journal of Ophthalmology
- 2026-08-14ClinicalA Randomized, Controlled, Partially Masked, Phase 3b Study to Assess the Injection Burden, Efficacy, Safety, and Long-Term Preservation of Visual Acuity of Surabgene Lomparvovec (ABBV-RGX-314) in a Real-World Context in Subjects With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD)Results expected Q1 2033
- 2026-08-06ClinicalA Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Subretinal Injection of LX102 in Participants With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration - The STELLAR TrialResults expected Q1 2028
Therapeutic landscape
Therapies with a regulatory footing for this condition, alongside the wider set of agents co-studied with it in the literature.
Approved & established therapies
Ranibizumabapproved
Original application approval — Susvimo is indicated in adult patients for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related… (2026)
Afliberceptapproved
Biosimilar approval — Eyluxvi is indicated for adults for the treatment of- neovascular (wet) age-related macul… (2025)
Clinical trials
The current development programme across all trial phases.
Clinical programme
24
6
18
6
Late-stage studies
Recruiting
Recently completed
Regulatory timeline
Drug regulatory events matched to this condition by indication — EMA.
Product approvals and authorisations
2026emaOriginal application approval — Ranibizumab· Susvimo is indicated in adult patients for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) who have achieved stable disease after previously responding to intravitreal treatment with a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor medicinal product. source ↗
2026emaBiosimilar approval — Ranibizumab· Vislyfa is indicated in adults for: The treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) The treatment of visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) The treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) The treatment of visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO) The treatment of visual impairment due to choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) source ↗
2025emaBiosimilar approval — Aflibercept· Eyluxvi is indicated for adults for the treatment of- neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (see section 5.1),- visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO) (see section 5.1),- visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) (see section 5.1),- visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV) (see section 5.1). source ↗
2025emaBiosimilar approval — Aflibercept· Afiveg is indicated for adults for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (see section 1), visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO) (see section 5.1), visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) (see section1), visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV) (see section 5.1). source ↗
2025emaBiosimilar approval — Aflibercept· Mynzepli is indicated for adults for the treatment of- neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD),- visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO),- visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME),- visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV) source ↗
2025emaBiosimilar approval — Aflibercept· Eiyzey is indicated for adults for the treatment of- neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (see section 5.1),- visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO) (see section 5.1),- visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) (see section 5.1),- visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV) (see section 5.1)s. source ↗
2025emaBiosimilar approval — Aflibercept· Vgenfli is indicated for adults for the treatment of- neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD),- visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO),- visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME),- visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV). source ↗
2025emaBiosimilar approval — Aflibercept· Eydenzelt is indicated for adults for the treatment of: neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (see section 5.1), visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO) (see section 5.1), visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) (see section 5.1), visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV) (see section 5.1). source ↗
Other regulatory activity
2026emaCHMP positive opinion — Ranibizumab· Treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other visual impairments in adults source ↗
2026emaCHMP positive opinion — Ranibizumab· Treatment of adults with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). source ↗
European Medicines Agency (CC BY 4.0). Events are matched to this condition by drug indication text — approvals/updates for drugs indicated for it, not disease-specific acts.
Research activity
Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.
Publications over time
Most influential
Recent publications
Major themes8
- Macular Degeneration4
- Diabetic Retinopathy2
- Global Health2
- Aging1
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors1
- Angiopoietin-21
- Antibodies, Bispecific1
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome1
Leading journals6
- The Lancet. Global health2
- Acta neuropathologica communications1
- Archives of ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)1
- Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology1
- International journal of molecular sciences1
- Lancet (London, England)1
Leading researchers8
- Holz FG2
- Wong TY2
- Ackland P1
- Akimaru H1
- Alves CH1
- Amano N1
- Amato R1
- Ambrósio AF1
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
- University of Cambridge2
- and Bernard and Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory1
- Anglia Ruskin University1
- Babraham Institute1
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute1
- Brien Holden Vision Institute1
Associated genes
Genes associated with this disease in the canonical knowledge graph (Open Targets evidence). Number shows the association score.
Disease biology
Proteins whose encoding gene is associated with this disease, reached through the canonical gene→disease graph. Number shows the gene's association score.
Related conditions
Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.
Disease profile
A grounded synthesis of the condition — overview, causes, mechanism, risk factors and current standard of care.
Overview
Macular degeneration is a degenerative disease of the retina that usually affects older adults. It damages the macula lutea and leads to loss of central vision, and it occurs in dry and wet forms.
Causes
The supplied grounding does not identify a specific cause or aetiology for macular degeneration. It is described as an age-related degenerative retinal condition, but no single causal factor is supported here.
Pathophysiology
The disease involves degenerative changes in the retina with damage to the macula, resulting in reduced central visual acuity. The literature grounding also links age-related macular degeneration to altered signal transduction and to thyroid hormone signaling imbalance in retinal cells, including photoreceptors, Müller glia, and pigmented epithelial cells.
Risk factors
Older age is the clearest risk factor supported by the grounding, since the disease is described as usually occurring in older adults. The supplied material also associates age-related macular degeneration with thyroid disorders and thyroid hormone homeostasis imbalance, but does not establish these as proven risk factors.
Current standard of care
The grounding supports diagnosis and drug therapy as major literature themes, but it does not specify a particular treatment standard. At the modality level, management is generally described in terms of diagnostic evaluation and drug therapy, with the disease occurring in dry and wet forms.
AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH and 6 peer-reviewed sources. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.
Reference
Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.
Defined in MeSH
Degenerative changes in the RETINA usually of older adults which results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the MACULA LUTEA) because of damage to the retina. It occurs in dry and wet forms.
Identifiers
References & data sources
- Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
- Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
- Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.