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News
A single injection of 4D-150, an intravitreal gene therapy, is showing real promise for patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Two-year data from the SPECTRA trial found zero serious ocular adverse events and meaningful vision gains — all while slashing the need for repeat injections. A phase 3 trial is now underway.
For patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), the current standard of care means frequent clinic visits and anti-VEGF injections every 4–8 weeks — on top of everything else that comes with managing diabetes. A new gene therapy, 4D-150, could change that. Two-year data from part one of the SPECTRA clinical trial show the single intravitreal injection was well tolerated with no serious ocular adverse events, and delivered meaningful improvements in both vision and retinal thickness.
In the nine patients who received the phase 3 dose, best corrected visual acuity improved by an average of 10.8 letters and central retinal thickness dropped by 176 µm. Crucially, treatment burden fell by 61% — patients needed just 5.2 supplemental injections on average, compared to a projected 13 with standard aflibercept dosing. Nearly a quarter of patients needed no additional injections at all.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: DME is a leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults, and poor adherence to frequent injection schedules is a real barrier to good outcomes. If 4D-150 holds up in phase 3, a single-injection approach could transform how DME is managed — reducing clinic burden for patients and providers alike.
