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Ruboxistaurin mesylate may delay visual loss for patients with DR
A protein kinase inhibitor showed a trend toward delaying moderate visual loss in patients with some forms of diabetic retinopathy, a multicenter trial found.
Researchers announced the results during the American Diabetes Association meeting.
Eli Lilly’s ruboxistaurin mesylate is being studied as a possible treatment for several microvascular complications of diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy. The current trial included 252 patients with moderately severe to very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Over a 3-year follow-up, ruboxistaurin did not statistically significantly impact the progression of diabetic retinopathy. However, when comparing the maximum dose of ruboxistaurin to placebo, patients receiving the drug showed a trend toward reduction in the occurrence of moderate visual loss.
It remains to be seen whether this trend will be confirmed in a larger phase 3 trial currently under way, researchers said.