Welcome to The MERLOT Study Website
MERLOT
Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blind registration in the UK. Standard treatment involves regular eye injections of ranibizumab (Lucentis®). For most patients, ranibizumab maintains their vision but the effect of the drug is temporary, and they therefore require monthly hospital visits and typically six injections into the eye every year, probably for life.
The MERLOT study tests a new surgical device* that delivers a focal dose of radiation (epimacular brachytherapy) to the macula to try and reduce or eliminate the need for ongoing, regular eye injections. The trial compares epimacular brachytherapy to ongoing standard treatment with ranibizumab.
Whereas most studies of this new surgical device target patients who have not yet commenced any treatment, the MERLOT study targets those who continue to require frequent eye injections, as there are limited surgical resources and these resources are best directed to those who have not fully responded to ranibizumab therapy, or whose response is short-lived. These patients have the most to gain from a device that may reduce their burden of treatment.
MERLOT is an investigator-initiated study and centres are invited to contact the study sponsor if they would like to participate.
The MERLOT Study is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Portfolio
—Epimacular brachytherapy (VIDION® System) is manufactured by NeoVista Inc. in the US and distributed in the UK by Carleton Ltd
| Sponsor: | King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Denmark Hill London SE5 9RS |
| Chief Investigator: | Tim Jackson,
PhD, FRCOphth King's College Hospital Denmark Hill London SE5 9RS |