Disulfiram for Treatment of Retinal Degeneration

Eligibility Criteria

• * Best corrected ETDRS visual acuity letter score ≥ 70 (i.e., 20/40 or better) within 30 days of enrollment.
• * Goldmann visual field exhibiting constriction of visual fields to 10 degrees centrally
• * Able and willing to provide informed consent
• * Willing and able to abstain from alcohol consumption for the duration of the study and the 2 weeks preceding it and 2 weeks following the study end point
• * Alanine transaminase (ALT): less than 40 IU/L
• * Aspartate transaminase (AST): less than 40 IU/L
• * Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): less than 300 IU/L
• * Albumin (Alb): less than 50 g/L
• * Total Protein: less than 80 g/L
• * Total Bilirubin: less than 30 umol/L
• * A condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study, e.g., alcohol dependence, cardiovascular disease, hepatitis.
• * Individuals with a history of diabetes mellitus
• * Individuals with a history of psychosis
• * Individuals with hypothyroidism
• * Individuals with hypersensitivity to thiuram derivatives causing rubber contact dermatitis
• * Those on anticoagulant therapy or other medications that may be affected by disulfiram.
• * An ocular condition, other than inherited retinal degeneration, is present such that, in the opinion of the investigator, visual acuity might be affected (e.g., foveal atrophy, pigment abnormalities, dense subfoveal hard exudates, non-retinal conditions such as epiretinal membrane or vitreo-macular traction, vein occlusion, uveitis or other ocular inflammatory diseases such as neovascular glaucoma, etc).
• * History of major ocular surgery within the prior 6 months or major ocular surgery anticipated within the next 6 months following randomization.
• * Exam evidence of severe external ocular infection, including conjunctivitis, chalazion, or substantial blepharitis
• * Participation in an investigational trial that involves treatment with any drug within 30 days of randomization that has not received regulatory approval at the time of study entry.
• * Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of the study drug.
• * For women of child-bearing potential: pregnant or lactating or intending to become pregnant within the next 12 months. Women who are potential study participants should be questioned about the potential for pregnancy. Investigator judgment will be used to determine when a pregnancy test is needed.
• * Participants who expect to move out of the area of the clinical center during the 8 months of the study