Ophthotech Corporation announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the Phase 2b randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of Zimura® (avacincaptad pegol), complement C5 inhibitor, in patients with autosomal recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1). STGD1 is an inherited orphan retinal disease causing vision loss during childhood or adolescence. Currently there are no FDA or EMA approved treatment options available for patients with STGD1. Over 30 sites have been identified for this clinical trial. The scientific details of the Stargardt clinical trial will be presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company expects to enroll approximately 120 patients in this trial and plans to use an anatomic endpoint, the mean rate of change in the area of ellipsoid zone defect as measured by en face spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), as the primary endpoint, which will be assessed at 18 months. Initial top-line data is expected to be available in 2020. Ophthotech also announced that it has initiated an open-label Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating Zimura in combination with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV), an age-related retinal disease. Approximately 20 patients will be enrolled and treated for a duration of 9 months. Initial top-line data is expected to be available during the second half of 2019. Zimura in Geographic Atrophy, a Severe Form of Dry AMD: An ongoing randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled Phase 2b clinical trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of Zimura monotherapy in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to dry AMD. The company plans to enroll approximately 200 patients in this trial. The primary efficacy endpoint is the mean rate of change in GA over 12 months. Patients will be treated and monitored for 18 months. A range of Zimura dosing regimens will be assessed. Initial, top-line data is expected to be available during the second half of 2019. Zimura in Wet AMD: An ongoing dose-ranging, open-label Phase 2a clinical trial of Zimura in combination with Lucentis® will enroll approximately 60 patients with wet AMD who have not been previously treated with any anti-VEGF agents, who will be treated for a duration of 6 months. Based on the anticipated enrollment rate, the Company expects initial top-line data from this trial to be available by the end of 2018.