Vitamin A-related drug could slow the progression of dry AMD and prevent the onset of wet AMD, according to new research.
An American study has found that fenretinide slowed lesion growth and preserved visual acuity in patients suffering from the most advanced form of dry AMD, geographic atrophy (GA). Patients who received the drug experienced a 49% slower rate of lesion growth compared to patients taking a placebo.
The drug is also reported to have reduced the rate of dry AMD sufferers developing choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a sight-threatening form of wet AMD, by 40%.
Dr Jason Slakter, clinical professor of ophthalmology at New York School of Medicine, said: “We are very encouraged because this data demonstrates that fenretinide may improve clinical outcomes for patients with both the dry and wet forms of AMD.”
The double-masked, two-year study involved 246 patients with dry AMD. Participants were split into three groups and each received a daily oral dose of either 100mg or 300mg of fenretinide, or a placebo. During this period participants’ retinal lesions were measured through fundus photography, fundus auto-florescence and fluorescein angiography. We can easily measure your retinal lesions from ARMD with our state of the art OCT 3D scan!
Dr Slakter added: “For the first-time ever, we may have a biomaker to predict patient response to therapy, as approximately one-third of patients who achieved a profound and sustained reduction in RBP levels experienced a beneficial treatment effect.
“I am looking forward to future studies to confirm these results and determine the role fenretinide may play in treating our patients.”
