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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

Vitrectomy, Subretinal Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) and Intravitreal Gas for Submacular Haemorrhage Secondary to Exudative (Wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (TIGER).

Vitrectomy, Subretinal Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Intravitreal Gas for Submacular Haemorrhage Secondary to Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (TIGER): a Phase 3, Pan-European, Two-group, Observer-masked, Superiority, Randomised Controlled Surgical Trial.

Vitrectomy, Subretinal Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) and Intravitreal Gas for Submacular Haemorrhage Secondary to Exudative (Wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (TIGER). (NCT04663750) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Eye Diseases and Macular Degeneration, Wet, sponsored by King's College Hospital NHS Trust. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

The centre of the retina (macula) at the back of the eye contains cells that give us our central vision that we use for reading and recognising faces. These cells can be damaged by a disease called wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where new abnormal blood vessels grow through the macula and leak fluid. This can affect vision. In some cases, wet AMD can also cause a bleed under the macula, known as a submacular haemorrhage (SMH), which can lead to marked and persistent loss of vision in the eye. The current standard treatment for wet AMD is to give injections containing 'anti-VEGF' drugs into the eye. Anti-VEGF drugs reduce the leakage of fluid so that the macula can become dry again and sight can improve. Anti-VEGFs are also the current standard of care for SMH, mainly because there is no licensed treatment for the SMH itself (patients with SMH were excluded from most wet AMD studies). The purpose of this study therefore is to compare two treatments: 1. Standard treatment for wet AMD (anti-VEGF injections). 2. Standard treatment above plus surgery. This study will find out if having surgery alongside anti-VEGF injections can improve vision further over the current standard treatment of anti-VEGF injections alone.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Eye Diseases, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

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.

Target enrollment of 210 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Eye Diseases subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: General 1. Males or females aged at least 50 years Study eye 2. SMH, comprising sub-neuroretinal haemorrhage with or without sub-RPE haemorrhage, that occurs secondary to treatment naïve, or previously treated exudative AMD, including choroidal neovascularisation (CNV), idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV) and retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). 3. SMH involving the foveal centre that measures at least 1 disc diameter in greatest linear dimension. 4. Sub-neuroretinal haemorrhage at least 125 microns thick, measured at the foveal centre using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). 5. BCVA between counting fingers and an Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score of 70, inclusive. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: General 1. Serious allergy to fluorescein or indocyanine green (ICG). 2. Hypersensitivity to alteplase, gentamicin, arginine, phosphoric acid, polysorbate 80 or aflibercept (Eylea). 3. Stroke, transient ischaemic attack or myocardial infarction within 6 months. 4. Participation in another interventional study within 12 weeks of enrolment or planned to occur during this study. ...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: General 1. Males or females aged at least 50 years Study eye 2. SMH, comprising sub-neuroretinal haemorrhage with or without sub-RPE haemorrhage, that occurs secondary to treatment naïve, or previously treated exudative AMD, including choroidal neovascularisation (CNV), idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV) and retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). 3. SMH involving the foveal centre that measures at least 1 disc diameter in greatest linear dimension. 4. Sub-neuroretinal haemorrhage at least 125 microns thick, measured at the foveal centre using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). 5. BCVA between counting fingers and an Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score of 70, inclusive. Exclusion Criteria: General 1. Serious allergy to fluorescein or indocyanine green (ICG). 2. Hypersensitivity to alteplase, gentamicin, arginine, phosphoric acid, polysorbate 80 or aflibercept (Eylea). 3. Stroke, transient ischaemic attack or myocardial infarction within 6 months. 4. Participation in another interventional study within 12 weeks of enrolment or planned to occur during this study. 5. Women who are breast feeding, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant during the clinical trial. Any sexually active women of childbearing potential must agree continued abstinence from heterosexual intercourse or to use highly effective methods of birth control for the duration up to 12 weeks after administration of IMP or the last administration of aflibercept on the trial. Men must also agree to use a condom if their partner is of child bearing potential, even if they have had a successful vasectomy. Females of childbearing potential are females who have experienced menarche and are not surgically sterilised (e.g. hysterectomy or bilateral salpingectomy) or post-menopausal (defined as at least 1 year since last regular menstrual period). Highly effective methods of birth control are those with a failure rate of \< 1% per year when employed consistently and correctly, eg. combined (oestrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation via oral, intravaginal, and transdermal routes; progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation via oral, injectable, implantable, intrauterine device (IUD), or intrauterine hormone-releasing system ( IUS); or vasectomised partner. 6. International Normalised Ratio (INR) greater than 3.5, unless it is anticipated that the INR can be brought below this level prior to vitrectomy, balancing the systemic risks with those of intraocular haemorrhage\*. 7. Unwilling, unable, or unlikely to return for scheduled follow-up for the duration of the trial. 8. Any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent the participant from granting informed consent or complying with the protocol, such as dementia, mental illness, or serious systemic medical disease. Study eye 9. SMH that is known or estimated to have been present for longer than 15 days, as evidenced by history, pre-trial clinical documentation, or fundus appearance. 10. SMH due to eye disease other than exudative AMD. 11. Current active proliferative diabetic retinopathy. 12. Current intraocular inflammation. 13. Current ocular or periocular infection other than blepharitis. 14. Current or known former high myopia (\>6 dioptres). 15. Aphakia. 16. Other current or pre-existing ocular conditions that, in the opinion of the Investigator, will preclude any improvement in BCVA following resolution of SMH, such as severe central macular atrophy or fibrosis, dense amblyopia, macular hole involving the fovea, or very poor BCVA prior to presentation with SMH (counting fingers or worse). 17. Inadequate pupillary dilation or significant media opacities, which will prevent adequate clinical evaluation of the posterior segment or fundus imaging. 18. Intraocular surgery within 12 weeks of enrolment except for uncomplicated cataract surgery, which is permitted within 8 weeks of enrolment. * Applies only to participants receiving warfarin.

Treatments Being Tested

PROCEDURE

Pars plana vitrectomy

Pars plana vitrectomy

DRUG

Intravitreal 2 mg aflibercept (Eylea, Bayer) will be injected at baseline then monthly for two further doses, then 2-monthly until month 12

Intravitreal 2 mg aflibercept (Eylea, Bayer) will be injected at baseline then monthly for two further doses, then 2-monthly until month 12.

DRUG

subretinal injection of recombinant TPA (Alteplase) up to a maximum of 25 micrograms in 0.2 mls

Subretinal injection of recombinant TPA (Alteplase, Actilyse, Boehringer Ingelheim) up to a maximum of 25 micrograms in 0.2 mls.

DRUG

Intravitreal 20% sulfahexafluoride (SF6) gas tamponade

Intravitreal 20% sulfahexafluoride (SF6) gas tamponade.

Locations (20)

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.

University of Bonn
Bonn, Germany
University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf
Hamburg, Germany
Ludwig Maximilians-University München
München, Germany
Augenzentrum am St. Franziskus-Hospital Münster
Münster, Germany
Knappschaft Kliniken Saar GmbH, Sulzbach
Sulzbach, Germany
Ulm University Hospital
Ulm, Germany
University hospital of Würzburg
Würzburg, Germany
The Institute of Eye Surgery
Waterford, Ireland
Ophthalmology Clinic Jasne Błonia
Lodz, Poland
University Hospital Bern
Bern, Switzerland
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
Kent & Canterbury Hospital (East Kent University)
Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
London, London, United Kingdom
The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion
Edinburgh, Scotlan, United Kingdom
Sunderland Eye Infimary
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Hull Royal Infirmary
Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Belfast, United Kingdom
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust
Brighton, United Kingdom
Bristol Eye Hospital
Bristol, United Kingdom
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Exeter, United Kingdom

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT04663750), the sponsor (King's College Hospital NHS Trust), 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 NCT04663750 clinical trial studying?

The centre of the retina (macula) at the back of the eye contains cells that give us our central vision that we use for reading and recognising faces. These cells can be damaged by a disease called wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where new abnormal blood vessels grow through the macula and leak fluid. This can affect vision. In some cases, wet AMD can also cause a bleed under the macula, known as a submacular haemorrhage (SMH), which can lead to marked and persistent loss of vision in the eye. The current standard treatment for wet AMD is to give injections containing 'anti-VEGF' … The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT04663750?

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 NCT04663750?

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 NCT04663750. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT04663750. 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.