The data reported at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Annual Meeting in San Diego suggests that ruboxistaurin mesylate was effective in persons with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease (also known as “diabetic nephropathy”).
The results showed that for patients already being treated with ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or both, ruboxistaurin significantly reduced albuminuria (an indicator of diabetic kidney damage) by 24%, compared to a nonsignificant 9% reduction in patients taking placebo.
Reductions in albuminuria with ruboxistaurin were seen after one month of treatment and remained consistent throughout the study. In addition, patients taking placebo experienced a significant loss of kidney function after one year, however kidney function was stable in patients treated with ruboxistaurin.
“The results from this study are very encouraging for people with type 2 diabetes who suffer from diabetic nephropathy,” said Dr Katherine Tuttle, lead investigator of the study, from Providence Medical Research Center.
“The significant improvement of albuminuria with ruboxistaurin in patients already treated with ACE inhibitors or ARBs suggests that the drug may be helpful in further slowing the progression of kidney disease.”