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Researchers at Frimley Health have recruited the first patient in the UK for a new study treating thyroid eye disease (TED).

The ARGX-113-2301 trial involves a weekly injection of the drug Efgartigimod, designed to reduce antibodies thought to trigger the disease.

“TED can affect your life in many adverse ways, from things as simple as watching TV or reading, to affecting your ability to work and to drive,” said Anuradha Jayaprakasam, consultant ophthalmologist and principal investigator for the research study at the Trust. “In the most severe cases, it can lead to visual loss, if left untreated.”

Treatment with the new trial is once a week for 24 weeks, the medication delivered with a prefilled syringe.

“It can be given by the patient themselves at home,” said Dr Jayaprakasam. “It avoids the need for them to come into hospital for each treatment.”

Study participants will be trained on how to administer the treatment by the research team for their first few doses in clinic, and then have the option to take it home if they are happy with the process.

As well as allowing greater convenience for patients, if the trial is successful it could offer a more tailored therapy by providing flexible dosing options of the serum.

The patient recruitment puts Frimley Health at the forefront of this global research project. There are eight centres set up to run the ARGX-113-2301 trial in the UK, and it is being studied around the world at sites in America, China and a number of European countries.

Symptoms of TED include bulging eyes, redness, swelling and pain, and double or blurry vision. As well as causing discomfort and irritation, the debilitating disease can also change a sufferer’s physical appearance to the point of affecting mental health, leading to feelings of depression and a loss of self-worth.

“The drug has the potential to impact on all aspects of the disease, including the appearance changes, and potentially prevent the disease advancing to the level of sight loss,” said Dr Jayaprakasam.

“It is a great motivation for me to be involved in work that could change the course of the disease for many of our patients.”

Dr Jayaprakasam set up a dedicated TED clinic in 2016 to provide holistic eye care in a one-stop clinic for Trust patients. Her experience in this field has seen her involved with a number of research trials aimed at tackling TED, keeping Frimley Health at the cutting edge of research developments.