Oral N‑acetylcysteine treatment for retinitis pigmentosa
NAC Attack, a phase-3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with retinitis pigmentosa
Adults with retinitis pigmentosa will take oral N‑acetylcysteine or a placebo to see whether it slows vision loss.
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 ID | NIH-11179132 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to take oral N‑acetylcysteine (1800 mg twice daily) or a placebo in a double‑masked way, with more people receiving the active pill than placebo (2:1). The trial runs at multiple clinical sites and follows participants for about 45 months with regular eye exams and testing. Johns Hopkins serves as the coordinating center to manage sites, data, and quality assurance. The goal is to track changes in vision and retinal health over time to determine whether the medicine can slow degeneration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a confirmed diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa who meet the study's eligibility criteria and can take oral medication and attend regular visits are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People without retinitis pigmentosa, those with very advanced end‑stage retinal loss, or anyone with medical reasons not to take N‑acetylcysteine are unlikely to benefit from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, the treatment could slow or prevent further vision loss in people with retinitis pigmentosa.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller clinical studies and laboratory research have suggested NAC may protect photoreceptors, but this larger phase‑3 trial is designed to provide definitive evidence.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kong, Xiangrong — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kong, Xiangrong
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 below.