Because of its iron-chelating and antioxidant properties, alpha lipoic acid may be a
treatment for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. There is
ample published data about the safety and pharmacokinetics of alpha lipoic acid in adults.
However, there is not much data on the safety and tolerability of higher doses of alpha
lipoic acid in the elderly population. The purpose of Phase I of this protocol is to
determine if there are safety/tolerability concerns seen when higher doses of alpha lipoic
acid are taken by subjects 65 years of age or older.
The objective of Phase 2 of this protocol is to determine the effects of ALA on the
progression of GA in subjects with AMD. The central hypothesis, based on the existing
literature, is that oral ALA reduces the rate of enlargement of GA in AMD subjects. The
rationale is that the antioxidant and iron chelating effects of ALA will slow down one of the
major pathways responsible for GA progression.