title: Oral protein kinase c β inhibition using ruboxistaurin: efficacy, safety, and causes of vision loss among 813 patients (1,392 eyes) with diabetic retinopathy in the Protein Kinase C β Inhibitor-Diabetic Retinopathy Study and the Protein Kinase C β Inhibitor-Diabetic Retinopathy Study 2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate efficacy, safety, and causes of vision loss among 813 patients (1,392 eyes) with moderately severe to very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy from the Protein Kinase C β Inhibitor-Diabetic Retinopathy Study and Protein Kinase C β Inhibitor-Diabetic Retinopathy Study 2 ruboxistaurin (RBX) protein kinase C β inhibitor trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in these 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked, Phase 3 trials had best-corrected Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity ≥45 letters (∼20/125 Snellen), Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study retinopathy level 47A/B-53E, and no previous panretinal photocoagulation in ≥1 eye. Patients received placebo (N = 401) or RBX 32 mg/day (N = 412). Data from the 2 studies were combined and masked evaluation of retinal photographs was performed for cause of visual decline in all patients experiencing sustained moderate visual loss (≥15-letter loss sustained for the last 6 months of study).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the studies combined, sustained moderate visual loss occurred in 10.2% of placebo-treated patients versus 6.1% of RBX-treated patients (P = 0.011). A ≥15-letter gain occurred in 2.4% of placebo versus 4.7% of RBX eyes (P = 0.021) and a ≥15-letter loss occurred in 11.4% versus 7.4%, respectively (P = 0.012). Diabetic macular edema was the probable primary cause of vision loss. Among eyes without focal/grid photocoagulation at baseline, fewer RBX group eyes (26.7%) required initial focal/grid photocoagulation versus placebo (35.6%; P = 0.008). No safety concerns were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis of data combined from two similar studies adds further statistical significance to RBX's beneficial effects on visual loss, need for focal laser, and vision gain, most likely through effects on macular edema.
authors.affiliation: Joslin Diabetes Center, Beetham Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. lpaiello@joslin.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Lloyd Paul
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vignati
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sheetz
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.forename: Aniz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girach
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wolka
authors.forename: Nazila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shahri
authors.forename: Roy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Milton
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008301:Maleimides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D008301:Maleimides; C099154:ruboxistaurin; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta