MS-553 in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients With Central Involved Macular Edema

A Multicenter, Open-label, Dose Escalation Study Assessing the Safety and Treatment Effects of MS-553 in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients With Central Involved Macular Edema

MS-553 in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients With Central Involved Macular Edema (NCT04187443) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Diabetic Macular Edema and Macular Edema, sponsored by Shenzhen MingSight Relin Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

This is an open label dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety and treatment benefits of MS-553 in treatment-naive diabetic retinopathy patients with central involved macular edema. Fifteen subjects with diabetic macular edema will be enrolled into each of three dose cohorts and will receive oral administration of MS-553 for 8 weeks.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Diabetic Macular Edema, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 45 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) according to ADA or WHO diabetic diagnosis criteria - Subject has the ability to follow the study instructions and is likely to complete all required study procedures and visits; - All males and females must consent to pregnancy prevention during the study and qualified measures of birth control. All females of childbearing potential must consent to a pregnancy test before entering the study. - Presence of central involved macular edema associated with diabetic retinopathy, i.e. diabetic macular edema (DME), as assessed by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (sd-OCT) of the central retina subfield thickness (CRT) at the Screening Visit (Centration must be confirmed by Investigators with signatures); - Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) score ≥ 34 letters (approximately 20/200 to 20/20 Snellen equivalent or better) using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity protocol, and assessed at the Screening Visit Visual acuity (VA); - Confirmation by the investigator that laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF treatments are either declined by the patients or not needed and can be withheld for at least 3 months after the Screening Visit; - Ocular media and pupil dilation adequate to permit good quality retinal imaging as assessed at Screening Visit. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Subjects with unstable metabolic or blood pressure control - Subject with emaciation or obesity at Screening Visit: body mass index (BMI) \<18.5kg/m2 or \>28kg/m2 - Current use or likely need for medications know to be toxic to the lens, retina or optic nerve, including Deferoxamine, Chloroquine / hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Tamoxifen, Phenothiazines and Ethambutol - ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) according to ADA or WHO diabetic diagnosis criteria * Subject has the ability to follow the study instructions and is likely to complete all required study procedures and visits; * All males and females must consent to pregnancy prevention during the study and qualified measures of birth control. All females of childbearing potential must consent to a pregnancy test before entering the study. * Presence of central involved macular edema associated with diabetic retinopathy, i.e. diabetic macular edema (DME), as assessed by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (sd-OCT) of the central retina subfield thickness (CRT) at the Screening Visit (Centration must be confirmed by Investigators with signatures); * Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) score ≥ 34 letters (approximately 20/200 to 20/20 Snellen equivalent or better) using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity protocol, and assessed at the Screening Visit Visual acuity (VA); * Confirmation by the investigator that laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF treatments are either declined by the patients or not needed and can be withheld for at least 3 months after the Screening Visit; * Ocular media and pupil dilation adequate to permit good quality retinal imaging as assessed at Screening Visit. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects with unstable metabolic or blood pressure control * Subject with emaciation or obesity at Screening Visit: body mass index (BMI) \<18.5kg/m2 or \>28kg/m2 * Current use or likely need for medications know to be toxic to the lens, retina or optic nerve, including Deferoxamine, Chloroquine / hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Tamoxifen, Phenothiazines and Ethambutol - * History of myocardial infarction or other cardiac event requiring hospitalization (unstable angina pectoris, etc.), cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, treatment for acute congestive heart failure or any arrhythmia within 4-months prior to Screening Visit; * Any situation that may in the opinion of the investigator preclude the safe administration of the study medication, adherence to the scheduled study visits, safe participation in the study or affect the results of the study as assessed at Screening Visit;

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

MS-553

Locations (3)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

Changsha, Hunan, China

West China Hospital of Sichuan University

Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Shanghai General Hospital

Shanghai, China

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT04187443), the sponsor (Shenzhen MingSight Relin Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT04187443 clinical trial studying?

Who can participate in NCT04187443?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT04187443?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT04187443. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT04187443. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.