Fenofibrate therapy has been shown to slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss in adults with diabetes. Findings presented at EASD 2025 from the LENS trial indicate that this benefit is consistent regardless of statin therapy or the severity of retinopathy at baseline.

The trial enrolled 1,151 adults with non-referable diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy in Scotland and randomized them to receive 145-mg nanoparticle fenofibrate or placebo. Over a median follow-up of four years, fenofibrate reduced the risk of progressing to referable diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy, or requiring treatment, by 27% compared to placebo. Importantly, the proportional benefit was similar in patients receiving statins versus those who were not and in participants with mild versus moderate disease. The absolute risk reduction was higher in those with moderate retinopathy or maculopathy (14.8%) than in patients with mild disease (5.4%).

These results highlight fenofibrate as a valuable adjunct therapy in patients with non-referable diabetic retinopathy, providing consistent protection irrespective of concurrent statin use or baseline disease severity.