Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. presented interim results from its ongoing TEASE-3 study in patients with early-stage Stargardt disease. According to the company, five participants treated with oral gildeuretinol acetate over two to seven years exhibited less loss in ellipsoid zone area compared to historical sibling controls, and overall disease progression remained relatively stable.
The company said that the treatment was well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with prior trials and most adverse events classified as mild or moderate.
TEASE-3 is an open-label clinical study enrolling genetically confirmed early-stage Stargardt patients showing retinal changes but without symptoms of vision loss. According to Alkeus, participants have a sibling with Stargardt disease and identical genetic mutations, providing a built-in comparator for assessing treatment effects.
The data were shared at the American Society of Retina Specialists Annual Scientific Meeting. This update follows TEASE-1, a randomized trial that demonstrated a significant reduction in retinal lesion growth, and builds on Alkeus’s broader TEASE program designed to slow Stargardt disease progression through early intervention.
According to the company, these findings reinforce the potential of gildeuretinol in preserving retinal structure and delaying vision loss when administered early in disease course.
