First Canadian participant dosed in Phase 1/2 ABA-1, CLARA clinical trial of AURN001

News
Article

The 1-time, intracameral injection is a cell therapy for the treatment of corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction.

Gloved hands holding vial, needle Image Credit: AdobeStock/desertsands

Image Credit: AdobeStock/desertsands

Aurion Biotech has announced the dosing of the first Canadian participants in its Phase 1/2 clinical trial (ABA-1, CLARA) of AURN001, a cell therapy for the treatment of corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction. The trial’s primary endpoint is the percentage of participants, who have corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction, who gain 3 lines of vision in 6 months, according to a news release.

“We are very pleased to have begun dosing subjects in this trial in Canada,” said Michael Goldstein, MD, MBA, president and chief medical officer at Aurion. “Treating subjects in both the US and Canada in our CLARA trial is an important milestone in our clinical development program. We believe that our cell therapy has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of corneal patients throughout the world.”

AURN001 is a combination cell therapy product of biologic and drug that is comprised of neltependocel (allogeneic human corneal endothelial cells) and Y-27632, an inhibitor of Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein Kinase (ROCK). AURN001 is intended to be administered to the eye once as an intracameral injection.1

The prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-masked, and parallel-arm cell dose-ranging trial will assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of AURN001 for the treatment corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction. The study will also compare low, medium, and high doses of AURN001 against the contribution of each element, cells alone, and Y27632 alone, to determine the effects of corneal edema.2

Around 100 participants will be treated with 3 different doses of neltependocel used in combination with Y-27632. Inclusion criteria for the study include a BCVA between 65 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter (ie, 0.4 LogMAR or approximate 20/50 Snellen equivalent) and 5 ETDRS letter (ie, 1.6 LogMAR or approximate 20/800 Snellen equivalent). Exclusion criteria includes having a history or presence of an ocular disease other than corneal endothelial dysfunction that could affect vision, as well as operative corneal epithelial, sub-epithelial, or stromal scarring or other opacity that is paracentral/central and visually significant, but not suspected to be secondary to corneal endothelial disease that has potential to improve the treatment of the study eye.2

References:
  1. Aurion Biotech Announces First Canadian Subject Dosed in Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial. News release. Published March 28, 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://aurionbiotech.com/aurion-biotech-announces-first-canadian-subject-dosed-in-phase-1-2-clinical-trial/
  2. A Phase 1/2Study of AURN001 in Subjects With Corneal Edema Secondary to Corneal Endothelial Dysfunction (ABA-1) (CLARA). Aurion Biotech. NCT06041256. Updated March 22, 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06041256?cond=Corneal%20Edema&spons=Aurion%20Biotech&rank=2
Recent Videos
Dr Jamie Kuzniar discusses higher order aberrations and premium scleral lenses
Abby Gillogly Harsch, OD, FAAO, FSLS, shares a specific complex case of scleral lens fitting that she presented on at this year's GSLS.
Katie Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, shares her excitement for the upcoming conference and what it means for an optometrist's toolbox.
From contact lens dropout to addressing diabetic retinopathy in rural communities, optometrists choose an area of eye care research that they would expand, given the appropriate resources.
From new treatments on the horizon for macular degeneration to strengthening comanagement ties, optometrists cite a lot to be excited about in the coming year.
Practice owners testify to the importance of trying new things, not being afraid to fail, and utilizing community as a resource when starting up a new practice.
Optometrists reflect on their residency experiences and provide advice to current residents.
In 2 weeks, the study participant's dry eye symptoms improved from 76 to 43 on a 0-100 rating scale, according to Marc-Matthias Schulze, PhD, Dipl Ing.
Eye care practitioners reported moderate to high satisfaction with lifitegrast's ability to improve signs of dry eye, according to Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS.
Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, FOWNS, details the positive feedback gained so far from other optometrists that have been prescribing the NutriTears supplement to their dry eye patients.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.