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Age-related macular degeneration is one of the world’s top causes of blindness. It primarily affects people 65 and older. The late stage of the disease results in profound loss of central vision. The wet form is particularly aggressive, and is characterized by rapid blood vessel growth underneath the retina. These newly formed, fragile blood vessels leak, causing fluid buildup in the retina and eventual scarring, resulting in permanent damage to the light sensitive cells. The primary treatment for wet AMD is regular injections of angiogenesis inhibitors into the eye. (The trade names for the drugs are Lucentis™ and Avastin™) This medical therapy helps stop the formation of new blood vessels in the retina, limiting fluid leakage. The treatment is non-curative, and the injections are administered indefinitely on an as-needed basis.

The INTREPID study tests a novel non-invasive radiotherapy device that delivers a focal dose of radiation to the macula to treat wet AMD. The study’s objective is to confirm the system’s safety and to determine if it is effective in reducing the number of Lucentis injections during the first 12 months of treatment.

The INTREPID Study is part of the U.K. National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network Portfolio (reference number CCRN 293).