Macular Degeneration Clinical Trials in the UK (2026)
26 May 202611 min readTrialConnect Research Team
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting over 700,000 people. Wet (neovascular) AMD can be treated with regular anti-VEGF eye injections, but the burden of monthly clinic visits is immense. Dry (geographic atrophy) AMD has had no approved treatment until recently. UK ophthalmology centres are leading trials in gene therapy, longer-acting drugs, complement inhibitors, and stem cell therapy — aiming to transform both forms of AMD from chronic conditions into manageable or even curable diseases.
The UK has world-class ophthalmology research infrastructure, with Moorfields Eye Hospital, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, and university departments in London, Manchester, Belfast, and Bristol running major AMD trials. The Macular Society and Fight for Sight provide patient advocacy and funding. The NHS treats over 40,000 new wet AMD cases annually, creating a large population for trial recruitment.
There are currently over 50 actively recruiting macular degeneration trials in the UK, covering gene therapy, novel drug delivery, complement inhibition, and regenerative approaches.
Types of AMD Trials
Longer-Acting Anti-VEGF
Drugs and delivery systems extending treatment intervals from monthly to every 3–6 months, reducing hospital visits.
Gene Therapy
One-time subretinal or intravitreal gene transfer enabling the eye to produce its own anti-VEGF protein, eliminating injections.
Complement Inhibitors
Targeting the alternative complement pathway that drives dry AMD/geographic atrophy — the first effective treatments for this form.
Stem Cell & Regenerative
Replacing lost retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors using stem cell-derived patches and cell suspensions.
Wet AMD: Longer-Acting Treatments
Monthly anti-VEGF injections are effective but burdensome. UK trials are developing treatments that last longer:
Faricimab (Vabysmo) — bispecific antibody targeting both VEGF and angiopoietin-2, approved for 4-monthly dosing. UK trials extending to 5–6 month intervals and testing in treatment-naïve patients
Port delivery system (PDS) — surgically implanted refillable device continuously releasing ranibizumab into the eye, requiring refills every 6 months. UK trials ongoing at major centres
Bispecific anti-VEGF/anti-PDGF — combination approaches targeting multiple pathways simultaneously, in UK Phase 2/3 trials
Topical and oral anti-VEGF — eye drops and oral tablets that could replace injections entirely, in early UK trials
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy for wet AMD aims to be a one-time treatment that eliminates the need for ongoing injections:
ADVM-022 (ixoberogene soroparvovec) — intravitreal gene therapy delivering an anti-VEGF protein (afibercept variant) via AAV vector. A single injection could provide years of treatment. UK Phase 2 trials showing sustained efficacy
RGX-314 — subretinal gene therapy using AAV8 to deliver a monoclonal antibody fragment targeting VEGF. UK trials exploring both subretinal and suprachoroidal delivery routes
4D-150 — next-generation intravitreal gene therapy using a novel AAV capsid for better retinal transduction with lower inflammatory risk. UK Phase 1/2 trials
Gene therapy for dry AMD — approaches targeting complement factor I or H to slow geographic atrophy progression, in very early UK studies
Dry AMD & Geographic Atrophy
After decades with no approved treatments for dry AMD, complement inhibitors have broken through:
Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) — complement C3 inhibitor, the first FDA-approved treatment for geographic atrophy. UK trials and NICE appraisal underway, testing monthly vs every-other-month dosing
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) — complement C5 inhibitor showing slowing of geographic atrophy lesion growth. UK Phase 3 trials ongoing
Oral complement inhibitors — tablet-form complement pathway inhibitors (factor D, factor B inhibitors) in UK Phase 2 trials, offering a non-injection approach to dry AMD
Neuroprotective agents — drugs protecting retinal cells from degeneration regardless of complement pathway, including visual cycle modulators and oxidative stress reducers
Combination approaches — trials combining complement inhibitors with neuroprotective agents or anti-oxidants for additive benefit
Stem Cell Therapy
UK researchers are global leaders in stem cell therapy for AMD, with pioneering surgical trials:
RPE cell patches (London Project to Cure Blindness) — stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium grown on a membrane and surgically implanted under the macula. UK Phase 1/2 trials at Moorfields have shown restoration of reading vision in patients with severe wet AMD
RPE cell suspensions — injecting stem cell-derived RPE cells in suspension, a less complex surgical approach. UK trials at Moorfields and Manchester
Photoreceptor replacement — early-stage UK research transplanting stem cell-derived photoreceptor precursors to replace the light-sensing cells lost in advanced AMD
Autologous iPSC-derived RPE — using the patient's own skin cells reprogrammed into stem cells, then differentiated into RPE. Avoids immune rejection. UK trials beginning
Who Can Participate?
AMD trial eligibility varies significantly between wet and dry forms:
Wet AMD trials — typically require active neovascular AMD confirmed by OCT and fluorescein angiography. Treatment-naïve or specific prior treatment requirements vary. Adequate retinal thickness and visual acuity range apply
Gene therapy trials — often require treatment-experienced wet AMD patients (on anti-VEGF for ≥6 months) with good response but high treatment burden. No prior intraocular surgery (some exclusions). No active ocular inflammation
Dry AMD/geographic atrophy trials — confirmed geographic atrophy on OCT and fundus autofluorescence, minimum lesion size, and specific visual acuity range. No concurrent wet AMD in the study eye
Stem cell trials — advanced AMD with significant vision loss, often end-stage disease where standard treatments are no longer effective. Requires surgical fitness
General criteria — no active eye infection or inflammation, no other significant eye disease (glaucoma, retinal detachment), and willingness to attend frequent monitoring visits
💡 Tip: Get OCT Imaging Before Applying
Most AMD trials require recent OCT (optical coherence tomography) scans. If you are interested in a trial, ask your ophthalmologist for copies of your OCT images and angiography reports. Having these ready — along with your visual acuity measurements and treatment history — significantly speeds up the screening process. Your optometrist can also provide baseline measurements.
UK AMD Trial Locations
Major UK centres running macular degeneration trials include:
London — Moorfields Eye Hospital (world-leading ophthalmology research), King's College Hospital, Western Eye Hospital
Manchester — Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Bristol — Bristol Eye Hospital
Belfast — Royal Victoria Hospital (Queen's University Belfast, major AMD genetics research)
Cardiff — University Hospital of Wales, School of Optometry
Glasgow — Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital
Edinburgh — Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion
Southampton — Southampton General Hospital
How to Find Your Match
Use our Smart Matcher to find macular degeneration trials tailored to your type (wet or dry), treatment history, and disease stage. Whether you are exploring gene therapy to end injections, complement inhibitors for geographic atrophy, or stem cell therapy for advanced disease, we can match you to actively recruiting studies.