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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

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

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

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

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

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?

Observational (Non-Interventional) Studies 
Just like the name implies, these studies watch patients as their disease progresses over time, but do not test any new treatments. Some Observational studies may use genetic testing to help researchers understand if there is a genetic component to the disease under study.
Phase I
In Phase I studies, a new treatment is tested, often for the first time in humans, in a small group of participants. These patients are very closely monitored for side effects and information is gathered on how the drug/device interacts in the body. Very early information about how effective the treatment is may be gathered, but the main purpose of this phase is to establish whether the treatment is safe for humans.
Phase II
If the Phase I trial is successful, the treatment will enter the next stage of testing. In this Phase, the group of participants is a little bit larger than in Phase I. Phase II studies continue to gather information about the safety and side effects of treatment, and some information about the efficacy of the treatment will also be gathered.
Phase III
Participants are enrolled in Phase III studies as more is known about the safety of a treatment. The group of participants in this phase is even larger which helps to detect any side effects that may have gone unnoticed in previous phases. At this phase, researchers aim to determine whether the treatment is beneficial in treating a disease. The experimental treatment will be compared to currently available treatment options to determine if it is more effective. After successful completion of this phase, the treatment may be reviewed by the FDA for approval.
Phase IV 
After a drug or device has been approved by the FDA, these studies aim to further the knowledge of the treatment’s safety during Post-Market Safety Monitoring.

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.

Retinal Research Center Durango, CO - Southwest Eye Care - eye diseases - macular degeneration - Cataracts - Dry Eye Disease - Conjunctivitis - Corneal Infections

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Southwest Eye Consultants provides medical and surgical eye care including retinal care, specialty cataract, cornea and external disease, medical and minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery care, and cosmetic and medical oculoplastic care.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Career Opportunities
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
    • Back
  • Meet Our Doctors
    • Moss J. Fenberg, MD
    • Sara J. Haug, MD, PhD
    • Scott D. Allen, MD
    • Grant M. Gebhard, MD
    • Cameron L. Clarke, MD
    • Kiley Berry, O.D.
    • Brian Baxter, O.D.
    • Back
  • Services
    • Retinal Care
    • Retinal Research Center
    • Advanced Cataract Care
      • Understanding Cataracts
      • Cataract Surgery Lens Options
      • Refractive Surgery
      • Back
    • Glaucoma Care
      • What is Glaucoma?
      • Glaucoma Laser Treatment
      • Glaucoma Surgery
      • Back
    • Cornea Care
    • General Eye Care
    • Back
  • Patient Center
    • Preparing for Your Visit
    • Preparing for Eye Surgery
    • Patient Resources
    • Patient Education
    • Video Library
    • FAQs
    • Back
  • For Physicians
    • Retinal Research Center
    • Our Research Team
    • Referring Physicians
    • Back
  • Locations
    • Durango Office
    • Cortez Office
    • Farmington Office
    • Animas Surgical Hospital
    • Four Corners Ambulatory Surgery Center
    • Mercy Regional Medical Center
    • Back
  • Contact Us