NAC Attack: a late-stage trial for preserving vision in RP patients
Official title: NAC Attack, a phase-3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with retinitis pigmentosa
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11384455 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, multi-site study is testing whether taking a daily NAC pill can help people with retinitis pigmentosa keep more of their vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | March 17, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,906,415 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1EY033293-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384455 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with retinitis pigmentosa who meet the study's eligibility criteria and can commit to long-term follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have RP or do not meet the eligibility criteria may not benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
If you have retinitis pigmentosa, you may qualify for this phase 3 trial comparing an oral NAC treatment to a placebo over about 45 months. It will enroll participants across multiple centers and use a double-blind design so neither you nor the researchers know who gets NAC. The study focuses on safety and how well the treatment may slow vision loss, with regular visits to monitor eye function and overall health. The Johns Hopkins coordinating center helps run the trial, manage data, and support sites to ensure high-quality participation and retention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, NAC could help slow vision loss and extend usable sight for RP patients.
How similar studies have gone: Phase 3 trials in RP have explored antioxidant strategies; this study is designed to provide robust evidence to support or refute NAC’s benefit.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kong, Xiangrong — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kong, Xiangrong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Inflammation in MERTK-related retinitis pigmentosa
This project aims to understand whether losing the MERTK gene causes retinal inflammation that leads to vision loss in people with MERTK-related retinitis pigmentosa.
-
Enhancing cone survival in RP through targeted cell-specific CRISPR therapy
A patient-friendly look at a new approach to protect cone cells in retinitis pigmentosa using precise gene editing to support vision.
-
Oral, once-daily MC16 medicine for retinitis pigmentosa
A gene-mutation-agnostic pill (MC16) is being studied to help people with retinitis pigmentosa by addressing a common cellular problem in the eye.
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Role of IPM Proteoglycans in Retinal Health and Inherited Blindness
This grant studies how specific retinal extracellular matrix proteins (IMPG1 and IMPG2) affect eye health and contribute to retinitis pigmentosa, with potential implications for people who have or are at risk for inherited blindness.
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Non-invasive biomarker for mitochondria health in retinitis pigmentosa
Aims to test a new, non-invasive OCT-based biomarker to explain and predict how mitochondria function affects cone cells in people with retinitis pigmentosa.
-
Understanding and Treating Inherited Retinal Degeneration to Preserve Vision
A clinician-scientist at Stanford is pursuing gene-agnostic therapies to slow or prevent vision loss from inherited retinal diseases like Retinitis Pigmentosa.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.