ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07496567TORRONTESUpdated Aug 6, 2026

A Clinical Trial of EYE201/MK-8748 in People With Macular Degeneration (MK-8748-003)

A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Tiespectus and Aflibercept in Macular Degeneration, Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Choroidal Neovascularization, sponsored by EyeBiotech Ltd.. Recruiting at 71 sites in 9 countries. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-06.

Primary conditionWet Macular DegenerationRegistry: Macular DegenerationReclassifiedWhy we changed it
Registry
Macular Degeneration — the first condition term the registry derived for this study.
ClinicalTrials.gg
Wet Macular Degeneration
Why
  1. The study's listed conditions name Wet Macular Degeneration, a narrower term within Macular Degeneration.
Confidence
High: the new condition is named in the study's own listed conditions. Of 351 hand-checked studies reclassified this way, 68% were exactly right and 84% in the right disease family; the registry's first term was right for 5% (measured 2026-10-21). How we classify →
Wrong?
Tell us the study's main condition →

Sponsored by EyeBiotech Ltd. (part of Merck & Co., Inc) · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Apr 2026; still recruiting 6 months later.
Phase
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
960
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
50 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD).

Available standard (usual) treatments for NVAMD, such as aflibercept, may not work for every person. Researchers want to learn if a trial medicine called tiespectus (also called MK-8748 or EYE201) can treat NVAMD.

The goal of this trial is to learn if tiespectus works as well as aflibercept to treat NVAMD.

02

Conditions studied

  • Macular Degeneration
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration
  • Choroidal Neovascularization
  • Wet Macular Degeneration

Browse trials for

03

In context

Wet Macular Degeneration Reclassified

93 studies on the registry are indexed under Wet Macular Degeneration; 10 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 960 is above the median of 101 across 74 interventional studies indexed under Wet Macular Degeneration.

Browse Wet Macular Degeneration studies →

Lead sponsor

EyeBiotech Ltd. is the lead sponsor of 7 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

First submitted after EyeBiotech Ltd. became part of Merck & Co., Inc.

Compared within Wet Macular Degeneration, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Macular Degeneration. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
50 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

The main inclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:

  • Has treatment naive choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) including subfoveal, juxtafoveal and extrafoveal lesions or retinal angiomatous proliferations (RAP) and polypoidal choroidal vascularization (PCV) lesions in at least one eye (study eye)
  • The diagnosis of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD) must have been made within 21 days prior to starting study treatment

The main exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following

  • Has uncontrolled blood pressure at screening
  • History of any prior macular laser photocoagulation in the study eye
  • History of uveitis in either eye
  • History of cataract surgery, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, or Yttrium-Aluminium Garnet (Yag) laser capsulotomy in the study eye within 90 days before entering the study
  • Has uncontrolled glaucoma in the study eye
  • Active retinal disease other than the condition under investigation in the study eye
  • Has previously received anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy or other intravitreal (IVT) therapy in the study eye
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2 / Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
960 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Tiespectus Low Dose

    Participants receive 3 initial administrations of tiespectus low dose every 4 weeks (Q4W), then continue to receive tiespectus low dose every 8weeks (Q8W) until week 48. After week48, participants will be treated at intervals determined based on individualized response to treatment, up to week 92.

    Drug: Tiespectus

  • Experimental
    Tiespectus High Dose

    Participants receive 3 initial administrations of tiespectus high dose Q4W, then continue to receive tiespectus high dose Q8W until week48. After week 48, participants will be treated at intervals determined based on individualized response to treatment, up to week 92

    Drug: Tiespectus

  • Active comparator
    Aflibercept 2 mg

    Participants receive 3 initial administrations of aflibercept, then continue to receive aflibercept Q8W until week 92

    Drug: Aflibercept

Interventions

  • Administered by intravitreal (IVT) injection

    Also known as: EYE201, MK-8748

  • Administered by intravitreal (IVT) injection

    Also known as: Eylea®

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean Change in Best-Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) [Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS Letters)] From Baseline to Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity. Mean change in ETDRS letters from baseline to Year 1 will be assessed.

    Time frame: Baseline and Year 1

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean Change in BCVA (ETDRS Letters) From Baseline (Day 1) Over Time to Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity. The mean change in BCVA from baseline over time to year 1 will be assessed.

    Time frame: Up to Year 1

  2. Proportion of Participants Who Gain ≥5 ETDRS Letters at Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity.

    Time frame: Year 1

  3. Proportion of Participants Who Gain ≥10 ETDRS Letters at Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity.

    Time frame: Year 1

  4. Proportion of Participants Who Gain ≥15 ETDRS Letters at Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity.

    Time frame: Year 1

  5. Proportion of Participants Who Lose ≥5 ETDRS Letters at Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity.

    Time frame: Year 1

  6. Proportion of Participants Who Lose ≥10 ETDRS Letters at Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity.

    Time frame: Year 1

  7. Proportion of Participants Who Lose ≥15 ETDRS Letters at Year 1

    Participants' BCVA in the study eye will be measured using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) methodology. The ETDRS letter score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better visual acuity.

    Time frame: Year 1

  8. Mean Change in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) Central Subfield Thickness (CST) From Baseline (Day 1) To Year 1

    CST will be measured in microns using SD-OCT. Mean change in CST from baseline to Year 1 will be assessed.

    Time frame: Baseline and Year 1

  9. Number of Participants who Experience One or More Systemic Adverse Events (AEs)

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in humans, whether or not considered drug-related. Therefore, an AE can be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal clinical laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product.

    Time frame: Up to approximately 96 weeks

  10. Number of Participants who Experience One or More Ocular AEs

    An ocular adverse event (OAE) is defined as any untoward medical occurrence involving the eye or ocular adnexa (including eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal apparatus, extraocular muscles, and orbit) that: Occurs or worsens after the first administration of the investigational product (IP) or a study-related ocular procedure, and does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the IP or procedure. OAEs include, but are not limited to, changes in: Symptoms (e.g., ocular pain, photophobia, floaters, blurred vision), Visual function (e.g., best-corrected visual acuity \[BCVA\], visual field). Intraocular pressure (IOP), Anterior segment findings (e.g., conjunctival hyperemia, keratitis, anterior chamber inflammation), Posterior segment findings (e.g., vitreous inflammation, retinal hemorrhages, retinal tears or detachment, macular edema), or ocular adnexa (e.g., eyelid edema, ptosis).

    Time frame: Up to approximately 96 weeks

07

Study locations

71 of 71 sites recruiting
  • Associated Retina Consultants - Gilbert
    Gilbert, Arizona 85259, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact602-242-4928
  • The Retina Partners
    Encino, California 91436, United States
    Recruiting
  • Northern California Retina Vitreous Associates Medical Group, Inc.
    Mountain View, California 94040, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact650-963-3465
  • Orange County Retina Medical Group
    Santa Ana, California 92705, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact714-972-8432
  • Retina Consultants of Southern Colorado
    Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact719-473-9595
  • RSC Research LLC
    Denver, Colorado 80222, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact720-443-2425
  • Retina Consultants of Southern Colorado
    Pueblo, Colorado 81008, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact719-473-9595
  • Connecticut Eye Consultants, P.C.
    Danbury, Connecticut 06810, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact203-791-2020
  • Retina Consultants, P.C.
    Manchester, Connecticut 06042, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact860-646-7704
  • Retina Group of New England
    Waterford, Connecticut 06385, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact860-444-1292
  • Retina Group of Florida
    Fort Myers, Florida 33912, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact239-938-1284
  • Florida Retina Institute
    Orlando, Florida 32806, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact407-849-9621
  • Retina Group of Florida (Site 065)
    Sarasota, Florida 34232, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact941-924-0303
  • Center for Retina and Macular Disease (Site 062)
    Winter Haven, Florida 33880, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact863-297-5400
  • Illinois Retina Associates
    Joliet, Illinois 60435, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact815-744-7515
  • University Retina & Macula Associates, P.C.
    Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact708-765-4110
  • Wolfe Eye Clinic
    West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact515-223-8686
  • Retina Associates, LLC
    Lenexa, Kansas 66215, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact913-831-7400
  • Butchertown Clinical Trials
    Louisville, Kentucky 40206, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact502-589-1500
  • Maine Eye Center (Site 097)
    Portland, Maine 04101, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact207-523-5548
  • Mid Atlantic Retina Specialists
    Hagerstown, Maryland 21740, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact301-671-2400
  • Retina Research Institute at New England Retina Consultants, PC
    Springfield, Massachusetts 01107, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact413-732-2333
  • Retina Consultants of Minnesota
    Edina, Minnesota 55435, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact952-259-6262
  • Envision Ocular, LLC
    Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact973-707-5632
  • Long Island Vitreoretinal Consultants / Vitreoretinal Consultants of NY
    Great Neck, New York 11021, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact516-466-0390
  • Retina Associates of Western NY, PC (Site 051)
    Rochester, New York 14620, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact585-450-2082
  • Asheville Eye Associates, Retina Division (Site 077)
    Asheville, North Carolina 28803, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact828-255-8008
  • NC Retina
    Cary, North Carolina 27511, United States
    Recruiting
    • Amanda Smith · Contactasmith@ncretina.com · 919-782-8038
    • Lekha Desai · Principal investigator
  • Graystone Eye
    Hickory, North Carolina 28602, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact828-304-6643
  • NC Retina Associates
    Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587, United States
    Recruiting
    • Amanda Smith · Contactasmith@ncretina.com · 919-782-8038
    • John Thordsen · Principal investigator
  • Retina Consultants, LLC
    Salem, Oregon 97302, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact503-371-4350
  • Cascade Medical Research Institute, LLC
    Springfield, Oregon 97477, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact541-687-1927
  • Erie Retina Research
    Erie, Pennsylvania 16505, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact814-200-9152
  • Charleston Neuroscience Institute (Site 034)
    Beaufort, South Carolina 29902, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact843-763-4466
  • Palmetto Retina Center
    Florence, South Carolina 29501, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact803-931-0077
  • Charleston Neuroscience Institute
    Ladson, South Carolina 29456, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact843-763-4466
  • Palmetto Retina Center
    West Columbia, South Carolina 29169, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact803-744-0158
  • Southeastern Retina Associates
    Hixson, Tennessee 37343, United States
    Recruiting
    • KaSandra "Kassy" Schratter · Contactkschratter@seretina.com · 423-756-1002
    • Devon Ghodasra · Principal investigator
  • Southeastern Retina Associates (Site 095)
    Johnson City, Tennessee 37604, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact423-578-4364
  • Southeastern Retina Associates, P.C.
    Knoxville, Tennessee 37922, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact865-588-0811
  • Tennessee Retina
    Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact615-983-6000
  • Retina Consultants of Texas
    Bellaire, Texas 77401, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact713-394-7576
  • Texas Retina Associates
    Fort Worth, Texas 76104, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact817-334-0882
  • Retina Consultants of Texas
    Katy, Texas 77494, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact713-524-3434
  • Austin Retina Associates
    Round Rock, Texas 78681, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact800-252-8259
  • Retina Consultants of Texas
    San Antonio, Texas 78240, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact210-903-1046
  • Austin Retina Associates
    San Marcos, Texas 78666, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact512-451-0103
  • Retina Consultants of Texas
    Schertz, Texas 78154, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact210-693-1063
  • Salt Lake Retina
    West Jordan, Utah 84088, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact801-679-4173
  • Vistar Eye Center (Site 129)
    Roanoke, Virginia 24019, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact540-342-3400
  • Pacific Northwest Retina
    Bellevue, Washington 98004, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact206-215-3850
  • Northeast Wisconsin Retina Associates
    Appleton, Wisconsin 54914, United States
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact920-751-8666
  • IPEPO - Instituto Paulista de Estudos e Pesquisas em Oftalmologia (Site 332)
    São Paulo, 04038-032, Brazil
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact5511 3016-4096
  • Clinica Oftalmologica del Caribe (COFCA)
    Barranquilla, 080001 - Atlantico, Colombia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact57 3043909153
  • Fundacion Oftalmologica Nacional
    Bogotá, 110231 - D.C., Colombia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact57 3108790322
  • Clínica Imbanaco S.A.S
    Cali, 760042, Colombia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact57 3004764838
  • Clinica de Oftalmologia Sandiego
    Medellín, 050021 - Antioquia, Colombia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact57 3136997380
  • Klaudians Hospital - Ophthalmology department
    Mladá Boleslav, 293 01, Czechia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact420731542840
  • VISUS spol. s r.o.
    Náchod, 54701, Czechia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact420775270681
  • Axon Clinical, s.r.o. (Site 400)
    Prague, 150 00, Czechia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact420 602171106
  • Astra Clinic.s.r.o.
    Prague, 184 00, Czechia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact420724728981
  • Fakultni nemocnice Kralovske
    Prague, PSČ 100 34, Czechia
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact420 267162913
  • Hopital Intercommunal De Creteil
    Créteil, 94010, France
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact(+33) 1 570 23068
  • Centre d'Ophtalmologie Paradis-Monticelli
    Marseille, 13008, France
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact+33 4 91 16 05 84
  • Centre Ophtalmologique Saint Exupéry
    Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, 37540, France
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact(+33) 6 2633 1609
  • Budapest Retina Associates
    Budapest, 1133, Hungary
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact+36-30-230-9177
  • Presidio Ospedaliero Universitario "Santa Maria della Misericordia" Clinica Oculistica - Padiglione 7 - Piano 3
    Udine, 33100, Italy
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact(+39) 0432 559905
  • AIBILI Azinhaga de Santa Comba
    Coimbra, 3000-548, Portugal
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact351 239 480127
  • Espaço Médico de Coimbra
    Coimbra, 3030-163, Portugal
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact00 351 965439405
  • Hospital General de Catalunya
    Barcelona, 8195, Spain
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact(+34)937071936
  • Oftalvist
    Burjassot -(Valencia), 46100, Spain
    Recruiting
    • Study Coordinator · Contact(+34)674757868
08

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Started Apr 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jul 2028, 27 months after the start.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 23, 2026
First posted
Mar 27, 2026
StartActual
Apr 15, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Jul 31, 2028
CompletionEst.
Jul 31, 2028
Last update
Aug 6, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 6, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07496567
Lead sponsor
EyeBiotech Ltd.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 27, 2026
Start date
Apr 15, 2026
Primary completion
Jul 31, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 31, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 6, 2026

Study contacts

Toll Free Number
Contact
Trialsites@msd.com
1-888-577-8839
Medical Director
study director · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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