Eclipse Life Sciences Completes Enrollment in Phase 2 DME Study

Biopharmaceutical company advances next-generation corticosteroid implant for diabetic macular edema.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:19pm

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A ghostly X-ray photograph revealing the internal structure of a human eye, with a glowing optic nerve and retina, conceptually illustrating a new treatment approach for diabetic eye disease.A new long-acting corticosteroid implant aims to provide a more durable treatment option for patients struggling with diabetic macular edema.Kansas City Today

Eclipse Life Sciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has completed patient enrollment in its BETTIS-1 Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating EC-104, a next-generation intravitreal corticosteroid implant designed to provide six months of durable drug release for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). The trial is comparing two doses of EC-104 to the existing Ozurdex corticosteroid implant in patients who have not responded adequately to anti-VEGF therapy.

Why it matters

DME is a leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults, and many patients experience suboptimal outcomes with current anti-VEGF monotherapy. A corticosteroid implant capable of delivering a consistent six-month duration of effect could represent an important advancement for this patient population, who currently lack a comparable commercially available product.

The details

The BETTIS-1 trial is a randomized, controlled, double-masked Phase 2 study comparing two doses of EC-104 (fluocinolone acetonide 0.14 mg and 0.092 mg) to the existing Ozurdex (dexamethasone 0.7 mg) implant in patients with DME who have not responded adequately to anti-VEGF therapy and have previously tolerated corticosteroids without significant intraocular pressure elevation. The primary endpoint is safety, with secondary endpoints evaluating anatomical durability and visual acuity changes at 24 weeks.

  • Eclipse Life Sciences completed patient enrollment in the BETTIS-1 Phase 2 trial in April 2026.
  • The study results are expected to be reported in Fall 2026.

The players

Eclipse Life Sciences, Inc.

A privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for ophthalmic diseases, including EC-104 for diabetic macular edema.

Scott Cousins, MD

CEO and VP for Research and Development at Eclipse Life Sciences.

Victor H. Gonzalez, MD

Retina specialist and founder of Gulf Coast Eye Institute in McAllen, Texas.

David S. Dyer, MD

Retina specialist and founder of Retina Associates, LLC in Kansas City, Missouri.

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What they’re saying

“Completing enrollment in the BETTIS-1 trial marks a significant milestone for Eclipse as we advance EC-104 through clinical development. We are grateful to the investigators, clinical trial site teams, and patients who have contributed to this important study. With all participants now enrolled, we look forward to the upcoming data readout this Fall 2026 and the opportunity to further understand the safety and therapeutic potential of EC-104.”

— Scott Cousins, MD, CEO and VP for Research and Development at Eclipse Life Sciences

“Patients with DME continue to face substantial treatment burden, particularly those who do not respond adequately to anti-VEGF therapy. This remains a significant unmet need.”

— Victor H. Gonzalez, MD, Retina specialist and founder of Gulf Coast Eye Institute

“A corticosteroid implant capable of delivering a consistent six-month duration of effect represents an important advancement for this population since there is no comparable commercially available product. We look forward to the study results.”

— David S. Dyer, MD, Retina specialist and founder of Retina Associates, LLC

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in treating diabetic macular edema, particularly for patients who do not respond well to current anti-VEGF therapies. The development of a long-acting corticosteroid implant like EC-104 could represent an important advancement in addressing this significant unmet medical need.