Cholesterol Drug May Slow Diabetic Vision Loss

On TUESDAY, June 25, 2024, groundbreaking research unveiled that a cholesterol-lowering medication shows promise in significantly slowing the advancement of a diabetes-associated eye condition. Fenofibrate (Tricor), a drug approved since 2004 to reduce cholesterol, has now been demonstrated to cut the progression of diabetic retinopathy by 27% when compared to a placebo. The research findings, published on June 21 in the journal NEJM Evidence, were concurrently presented at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.

"Diabetic retinopathy continues to be a primary cause of visual impairment, and we need simple, widely applicable strategies to curb the progression of this diabetic eye condition," noted David Preiss, an associate professor at Oxford Population Health in the UK. Preiss further commented in a meeting press release that this new data indicates fenofibrate could be a beneficial addition to the treatment options for diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy arises when persistent high blood sugar levels cause harm to the blood vessels located at the back of the eye. These damaged vessels begin to swell and leak, leading to symptoms such as blurry vision, blank spots, and eventually, blindness.

The study conducted by the researchers involved 1,151 adults in Scotland who were in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. These individuals were randomly assigned to receive either fenofibrate tablets or a placebo. Results over a four-year period showed that nearly 23% of the fenofibrate group experienced a worsening of their eye disease, compared to 29% in the placebo group.

Additionally, fenofibrate reduced the risk of developing macular edema, a potentially dangerous swelling in the retina. The study highlights that participants’ health will continue to be monitored to understand the long-term effects of fenofibrate better.