Trial Outcomes & Findings for Retinal Fundus Flavoprotein Fluorescence in Age Related Macular Degeneration (NCT NCT06381596)

NCT ID: NCT06381596

Last Updated: 2026-07-29

Results Overview

Ellipsoid Zone (EZ) loss refers to damaged photoreceptors in the eye. Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) are cells that nourish photoreceptors in the eye, RPE loss is a measure of the degradation of these cells. Geographic Atrophy (GA) is an advanced stage of macular degeneration. These OCT variables are measured in millimeters squared from images taken with the Heidelberg Spectralis.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

32 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

up to 45 minutes

Results posted on

2026-07-29

Participant Flow

Participants who were enrolled in 2023-0958 (NCT05961332) and met the inclusion criteria were recruited to this study from April 2024 to May 2025.

Unit of analysis: eyes

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging
OcuMet Beacon: OcuMet Beacon is a novel fundus camera the can detect, capture, and assess FPF.
Overall Study
STARTED
32 55
Overall Study
Analysis Population
26 41
Overall Study
COMPLETED
26 41
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
6 14

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging
OcuMet Beacon: OcuMet Beacon is a novel fundus camera the can detect, capture, and assess FPF.
Overall Study
Had eyes that were screened out for image quality and excluded for neovascularization
6

Baseline Characteristics

Data reported for the analysis population only.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging
n=55 eyes
OcuMet Beacon: OcuMet Beacon is a novel fundus camera the can detect, capture, and assess FPF.
Age, Continuous
78.308 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.047 • n=26 Participants • Data reported for the analysis population only.
Sex: Female, Male
Female
21 Participants
n=32 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
11 Participants
n=32 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=32 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
31 Participants
n=32 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=32 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=32 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=32 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=32 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=32 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
32 Participants
n=32 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=32 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=32 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
32 participants
n=32 Participants
Laterality
Single Eye
11 Participants
n=26 Participants • Data for the N=26 participants included in the final analysis.
Laterality
Both Eyes
15 Participants
n=26 Participants • Data for the N=26 participants included in the final analysis.
Lens Status
Pseudophakic
23 eyes
n=41 eyes • Data reported for 26 participants and 41 eyes that were part of the analysis population.
Lens Status
Phakic
18 eyes
n=41 eyes • Data reported for 26 participants and 41 eyes that were part of the analysis population.
Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA)
0.456 logMAR
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.314 • n=40 eyes • Data reported for the analysis population only.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 45 minutes

Ellipsoid Zone (EZ) loss refers to damaged photoreceptors in the eye. Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) are cells that nourish photoreceptors in the eye, RPE loss is a measure of the degradation of these cells. Geographic Atrophy (GA) is an advanced stage of macular degeneration. These OCT variables are measured in millimeters squared from images taken with the Heidelberg Spectralis.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
FPF-Heterogeneity: OcuMet Beacon
A measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula, measured with the OcuMet Beacon.
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging: Heidelberg Spectralis
n=41 eyes
The data including FAF/ GA area and OCT measures are from Heidelberg Spectralis
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Variables
EZ loss
9.911 millimeters squared
Standard Deviation 6.937
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Variables
RPE Loss
7.362 millimeters squared
Standard Deviation 5.534
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Variables
GA
7.635 millimeters squared
Standard Deviation 6.548

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to 45 minutes

Average pixel intensity over a 5.5 mm-diameter region centered at the macula, a measure of oxidative stress. Data range from 0-100 where higher numbers indicate more severe disease. This is measured with the OcuMet Beacon.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
FPF-Heterogeneity: OcuMet Beacon
A measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula, measured with the OcuMet Beacon.
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging: Heidelberg Spectralis
n=41 eyes
The data including FAF/ GA area and OCT measures are from Heidelberg Spectralis
Flavoprotein Fluorescence (FPF) Intensity
56.168 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 28.543

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 45 minutes

This is a measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula. It is a parameter that measures distribution and spatial variability of fluorescent signal by quantifying signal distribution of energy in localized hotspots, normalized to background. Normal values are less than 1 AU (arbitrary units), with values higher than 1 AU (in the range of 1-10 AU) corresponding to increased levels of metabolic distress due to oxidized mitocondria within the particular area of the retina that was imaged. This is measured with the OcuMet Beacon.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
FPF-Heterogeneity: OcuMet Beacon
A measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula, measured with the OcuMet Beacon.
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging: Heidelberg Spectralis
n=41 eyes
The data including FAF/ GA area and OCT measures are from Heidelberg Spectralis
FPF Heterogeneity
1.087 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 0.136

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 45 minutes

Spearman's rank coefficient was chosen as the primary metric due to the relatively small number of eyes in our sample as well as the lack of normally-distributed data (confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk tests, evaluated at α=0.05). Correlations were calculated between both FPF biomarkers and all FAF/OCT variables (i.e. areas of GA, EZ loss, and RPE loss). To account for correlation between eyes belonging to the same patient, p-values were obtained via nonparametric bootstrap resampling at the patient level.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
FPF-Heterogeneity: OcuMet Beacon
n=41 eyes
A measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula, measured with the OcuMet Beacon.
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging: Heidelberg Spectralis
n=41 eyes
The data including FAF/ GA area and OCT measures are from Heidelberg Spectralis
Correlation Between FPF-intensity, FPF-heterogeneity and OCT Continuous Variables
EZ Loss: Full [Heidelberg Spectralis]
0.445 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.082 to 0.693
0.441 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.073 to 0.693
Correlation Between FPF-intensity, FPF-heterogeneity and OCT Continuous Variables
RPE Loss: Full [Heidelberg Spectralis]
0.432 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.085 to 0.682
0.406 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.041 to 0.661
Correlation Between FPF-intensity, FPF-heterogeneity and OCT Continuous Variables
GA: Full [Heidelberg Spectralis]
0.445 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.095 to 0.681
0.414 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.046 to 0.667

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to 45 minutes

FPF Intensity is the average pixel intensity over a 5.5 mm-diameter region centered at the macula (measured in gray scale units) compared to are of Geographic Atrophy (measured in millimeters squared). Spearman's rank coefficient was chosen as the primary metric due to the relatively small number of eyes in our sample as well as the lack of normally-distributed data (confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk tests, evaluated at α=0.05).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
FPF-Heterogeneity: OcuMet Beacon
A measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula, measured with the OcuMet Beacon.
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging: Heidelberg Spectralis
n=41 eyes
The data including FAF/ GA area and OCT measures are from Heidelberg Spectralis
Compare the Cross-sectional Associations Between FPF Intensity to FAF Area at the Time of Measurement
0.414 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.046 to 0.667

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to 45 minutes

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
FPF-Heterogeneity: OcuMet Beacon
A measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula, measured with the OcuMet Beacon.
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging: Heidelberg Spectralis
n=40 eyes
The data including FAF/ GA area and OCT measures are from Heidelberg Spectralis
Compare the Cross-sectional Associations Between Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA - Using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study, Greater Number of Letters Read Correctly Equals Better Vision) to FAF Area at the Time of Measurement
0.35 correlation coefficient
Interval -0.015 to 0.642

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 45 minutes

Population: There is one eye missing the Snellen fraction.

Spearman's rank coefficient was chosen as the primary metric due to the relatively small number of eyes in our sample as well as the lack of normally-distributed data (confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk tests, evaluated at α=0.05). Correlations were calculated between both FPF biomarkers and all continuous demographic and FAF/OCT variables (i.e. age and logMAR values). To account for correlation between eyes belonging to the same patient, p-values were obtained via nonparametric bootstrap resampling at the patient level. Participant variables are reported in the baseline characteristics section.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
FPF-Heterogeneity: OcuMet Beacon
n=41 eyes
A measure of variability in retinal mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) across the macula, measured with the OcuMet Beacon.
Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging: Heidelberg Spectralis
n=41 eyes
The data including FAF/ GA area and OCT measures are from Heidelberg Spectralis
Correlation Between FPF-intensity, FPF-heterogeneity and Participant Variables
LogMAR
0 correlation coefficient
Interval -0.352 to 0.296
0.374 correlation coefficient
Interval 0.044 to 0.608
Correlation Between FPF-intensity, FPF-heterogeneity and Participant Variables
Age
0.074 correlation coefficient
Interval -0.313 to 0.444
-0.111 correlation coefficient
Interval -0.473 to 0.297

Adverse Events

Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Britney Naolhu

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Phone: (224) 567-9491

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place