Disulfiram for Treatment of Retinal Degeneration

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥18 years Only those with a clinical diagnosis of inherited retinal degeneration. Whenavailable, supporting genetic diagnosis form a CLIA approved lab will be further consideredfor inclusion. Only one eye per subject should be identified as the study eye. The study eye must meet thefollowing criteria:

• Best corrected ETDRS visual acuity letter score ≥ 70 (i.e., 20/40 or better) within 30days 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 andthe 2 weeks preceding it and 2 weeks following the study end point Liver function values that fall in the normal range as specified below:
• 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

Exclusion Criteria:

• A condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation inthe 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 contactdermatitis
• Those on anticoagulant therapy or other medications that may be affected bydisulfiram.
• 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., fovealatrophy, pigment abnormalities, dense subfoveal hard exudates, non-retinal conditionssuch as epiretinal membrane or vitreo-macular traction, vein occlusion, uveitis orother ocular inflammatory diseases such as neovascular glaucoma, etc).
• History of major ocular surgery within the prior 6 months or major ocular surgeryanticipated 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 ofstudy entry. Note: study participants cannot receive another investigational drug while participating inthis study.
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of the study drug.
• For women of child-bearing potential: pregnant or lactating or intending to becomepregnant within the next 12 months. Women who are potential study participants shouldbe questioned about the potential for pregnancy. Investigator judgment will be used todetermine when a pregnancy test is needed.
• Participants who expect to move out of the area of the clinical center during the 8months of the study