The Study of CU06-1004 in Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

This phase 2a trial is a randomized, open-label, parallel-group study in approximately 60 patients with DME to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CU06-1004 orally administered once daily for 12 weeks. The study will have a 1:1:1 randomization (CU06-1004 100mg: CU06-1004 200mg: CU06-1004 300mg).


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject who is male or female ≥ 18 years of age
2. Subject who has a diagnosis of Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
3. Subject who has study eye with definite retinal thickening due to diabetic macular edema involving the center of the macula
4. Subject who has voluntarily signed an informed consent form
5. Subject who has study eye with central subfield thickness (CST) of the following on SD-optical coherence tomography (OCT).

   1. Zeiss Cirrus: CST ≥ 290 µm in women, or ≥ 305 µm in men
   2. Heidelberg Spectralis: CST ≥ 305 µm in women, or ≥ 320 µm in men
6. Subject who has DRSS score ≥ 35
7. Subject who has study eye with an ETDRS BCVA letter score ranging from 34 to 83, inclusive (approximate Snellen equivalent of 20/25 - 20/200 at a distance of 4 meters).
8. Subject who has media clarity, pupillary dilation, and subject cooperation sufficient for adequate fundus photographs.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject whose macular edema is of non-diabetic retinopathy etiology (e.g., secondary to vitreomacular interface abnormalities).
2. Subject who has had major surgery within 3 months prior to randomization or major surgery planned during the next 6 months.
3. Subject who has a hypersensitivity to any excipients of the investigational product or similar class of drug and ingredient.
4. Subject who has the following illness or abnormal laboratory test values:

   * Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \> 180 mmHg or DBP \> 100 mmHg)
   * Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c \> 12.0%)
   * Total bilirubin \> 1.5 × ULN
   * Positive results for HIV or Hepatitis B or C viruses
   * Other clinically significant abnormal lab values per Investigator's judgement
5. Subject who participated in an investigational trial of biologic agent within 3 months and any other investigational trial within 1 month of randomization.
6. Subject who has received gene therapy for any indication.
7. Subject who has received COVID-19 vaccine within 30 days of first dosing until the end of the study.
8. Pregnant woman, lactating woman, or female or male subject of childbearing potential who doesn't accept appropriate contraceptive measures for the next 6 months

   \* Hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine contraceptive device, sterilization of spouse (e.g., vasectomy, tubal ligation), double-barrier method (e.g., combinational use of spermicides and condoms, diaphragm, contraceptive sponge, or FemCap)
9. Subject who has medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study (e.g., unstable medical status including blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and glycemic control).
10. Subject who administered vaccinium myrtillus extract or dobesilate calcium within 2 weeks before randomization.
11. Subject who has unstable angina, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, cerebral infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, or transluminal coronary angioplasty within 6 months before screening.
12. Subject who has an ocular condition (other than diabetes) that, in the opinion of the investigator, might affect macular edema or alter visual acuity during the course of the study (e.g., vein occlusion, uveitis or other ocular inflammatory disease, neovascular glaucoma, Irvine-Gass Syndrome, foveal atrophy, pigmentary changes, dense subfoveal hard exudates, nonretinal condition etc.).
13. Subject who has exam evidence of external ocular infection, including conjunctivitis, chalazion, or significant blepharitis.
14. Subject who is expected to have no improvement of decreased visual acuity in the opinion of the Investigator, even if macular edema is resolved (e.g., foveal atrophy, abnormal pigmentation, dense subfoveal hard exudate).
15. Subject who has a history of treatment with anti-VEGF agents, or focal laser treatment (Focal/grid laser photocoagulation) within 3 months prior to randomization or intravitreal dexamethasone or triamcinolone within 6 months prior to randomization.
16. Subject who has a history of treatment with intravitreal fluocinolone astonide.
17. Subject who has a history of panretinal scatter photocoagulation (PRP).
18. Subject who anticipated need for PRP in the 3 months following randomization.
19. Subject who has a history of ocular surgery (including cataract extraction, any intraocular surgery, etc.) within prior 3 months or anticipated within the next 6 months following randomization.
20. Subject who has a history of retinal detachment or retinal detachment repair surgery.
21. Subject who has a history of YAG capsulotomy performed within 2 months prior to randomization.
22. Subject who has uncontrolled glaucoma in either eye (intraocular pressure (IOP) \> 24 mmHg on medication or according to the investigator's judgment).
23. Subject who has a history of vitrectomy.
24. Subject who has any active intraocular inflammatory diseases such as uveitis, conjunctivitis, and in either eye.
25. Subject who has any history of intraocular inflammation in either eye other than what would be expected in the normal post-operative course following prior routine ocular surgery such as cataract surgery.