[Shalyndria]

Eli Lilly and Company's investigational compound ruboxistaurin may reduce vision loss from diabetes-induced eye disease, according to new analyses of previously reported data presented at the 2004 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the European Society of Ophthalmology in New Orleans, La.

The analyses showed that diabetic macular edema (DME) - a serious manifestation of diabetic retinopathy that occurs when fluid builds up in the retina and causes swelling1 - was associated with lower visual acuity when it involved the center of the macula. The severity of central involvement was associated with the severity of vision loss, according to the analyses.

Patients who received 32 mg per day of ruboxistaurin appeared to have better visual acuities (better vision) at equivalent levels of involvement of the center of the macula than placebo-treated patients (data from a trial with approximately 63 patients per treatment group). In addition, there was a trend toward less progression of DME to involve the center of the macula in patients receiving 32 mg of ruboxistaurin (data from a trial with 170 patients per treatment group).

"A key to preventing vision loss from diabetic eye disease is to prevent macular edema from involving the center of the macula, where it affects the part of the retina that is most important for detailed vision," said Lloyd Paul Aiello, MD, PhD, associate director of the Beetham Eye Institute at the Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard University Medical School.

"These data suggest that ruboxistaurin may have the potential to decrease the progression of diabetic macular edema to involve the center of the macula. A Phase 3 clinical trial is underway to further explore these preliminary findings."
Medical News - Oct 28/04

FYI.
Shy