Oral drug fenretinide has potential for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), but further studies are required, according to a paper featured in the journal 

, Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, USA, conducted a two-year, placebo-controlled double-masked trial on 246 patients at 30 clinical sites in the US. Each patient received either 100 mg or 300 mg of oral fenretinide daily to slow lesion growth in GA.

The drug produced dose-dependent reversible reductions in serum RBP-retinol that were linked to trends in reduced lesion growth rates in GA. Patients who received 300 mg of fenretinide demonstrated a mean reduction 0.33 mm2 in the yearly lesion growth rate compared with subjects in the placebo group.

The therapeutic effect reduced the occurrence of choroidal neovascularization. It was not dose-dependent and was consistent with anti-angiogenic properties of fenretinide. These results, in addition to the known safety profile of the drug, warrant further study of fenretinide for GA treatment.

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Retina

Oral drug fenretinide has potential for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), but further studies are required.