ADA24: Cholesterol drug may slow vision loss from diabetes

Recent findings presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference reveal that fenofibrate, a widely used cholesterol-lowering drug, may significantly slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. This revelation comes from the LENS trial, the first extensive study aimed at evaluating fenofibrate's impact on eye health in individuals with early stages of diabetic retinopathy.

The research was conducted within Scotland's Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) programme and involved 1151 adult participants diagnosed with early diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive fenofibrate tablets or a placebo. The primary goal was to measure the development of referable diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy, or the necessity for treatments such as laser therapy, intravitreal injections, or vitrectomy.

Over a span of four years, those who were administered fenofibrate experienced a 27% reduction in the progression of eye disease compared to the placebo group, with rates of 22.7% and 29.2%, respectively. Researchers highlighted that this outcome was "highly statistically significant." Additionally, fenofibrate not only reduced the likelihood of any progression in retinopathy but also lowered the risk of developing macular oedema. These findings have been concurrently published in NEJM Evidence.

The LENS trial's collaboration with the Scottish DES programme also provided a supplementary dataset comprising 9000 retinal images. These images will be examined using machine learning techniques to gain deeper insights into fenofibrate's effects on diabetic eye conditions. Researchers plan to monitor patient progress by linking the trial data with national health records, which will provide further understanding of the long-term impacts of fenofibrate therapy.

In summary, the LENS trial offers compelling evidence that fenofibrate can play a crucial role in managing diabetic retinopathy, potentially offering a new therapeutic avenue for patients at risk of this debilitating eye condition. The ongoing analysis of retinal images and patient health records will continue to shed light on the benefits and mechanisms of fenofibrate, contributing to more effective treatment strategies in the future.