Fenofibrate for Prevention of DR Worsening

Last updated: November 11, 2025
Sponsor: Jaeb Center for Health Research
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

3

Condition

Diabetic Retinopathy

Retina

Treatment

Placebo

Fenofibrate

Clinical Study ID

NCT04661358
DRCR.net Protocol AF
U10EY014231
  • Ages 18-80
  • All Genders

Study Summary

This randomized trial will evaluate the effect of fenofibrate compared with placebo for prevention of diabetic retinopathy (DR) worsening through 6 years of follow-up in eyes with mild to moderately severe non-proliferative DR (NPDR) and no CI-DME at baseline.

In addition to evaluating efficacy, this study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a model for ophthalmologists to prescribe or collaborate with a primary care provider such as an internist/endocrinologist to prescribe and monitor the drug safely. If this study demonstrates that fenofibrate is effective for reducing the onset of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) or and the results are adopted by the community of retina specialists, a new strategy to prevent vision threatening complications of diabetes could be widely adopted. Widespread use of an oral agent effective at reducing worsening of DR would decrease the numbers of patients who undergo more invasive and much more expensive treatment for DR and who are consequently at risk for side effects that adversely affect visual function. This study will also assess the relationship of glycemic variability, as measured by continuous glucose monitoring with DR outcomes. Ancillary studies will characterize functional and structural outcomes in this cohort.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Key Inclusion Criteria

  • Age ≥18 years and < 80 years.

  • Type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

  • At least one eye with the following:

  • Mild to moderately severe NPDR (defined by ETDRS DR severity level 35 to 47), confirmed by central Reading Center grading of fundus photographs.

  • Best-corrected E-ETDRS visual acuity letter score of ≥74 (approximate Snellen equivalent 20/32 or better). If best corrected letter score is 74-78, investigator must verify that vision loss is not due to the presence of CI-DME, cataract, or other condition that may affect visual acuity during the course of the study.

  • If only one eye is eligible, the non-study eye must have at least microaneurysms only (DR severity level 20)

Key Exclusion Criteria

Eye-level exclusion criteria (the eye is ineligible if any of the following is met):

  • Current CI-DME based on clinical exam or OCT central subfield thickness (CST)

  • Zeiss Cirrus: CST ≥290 µm in women or ≥ 305 µm in men

  • Heidelberg Spectralis: CST ≥305 µm in women or ≥320 µm in men

  • Any prior treatment for DME or DR, other than focal/grid laser. If the eye has a history of focal/grid laser, it must be at least 12 months prior.

  • History of intraocular anti-VEGF or corticosteroid treatment within the prior year for any indication

Participant-level exclusion criterion (the participant is ineligible if the following criterion is met):

• Decreased renal function, defined as requiring dialysis or central laboratory eGFR value < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2

Study Design

Total Participants: 560
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Placebo
Phase: 3
Study Start date:
March 05, 2021
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2029

Connect with a study center

  • Kent W. Small, MD, AMC

    Glendale, California 91203-1971
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Salehi Retina Institute Inc.

    Huntington Beach, California 92647-8693
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Loma Linda University

    Loma Linda, California 92354
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • UCLA Stein Eye Institute

    Pasadena, California 91103
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Regents of the University of California, Davis, DBA University of California, Davis

    Sacramento, California 95817
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California 94110
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Kent W. Small, MD, AMC

    Glendale 5352423, California 5332921 91203-1971
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Salehi Retina Institute Inc.

    Huntington Beach 5358705, California 5332921 92647-8693
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Loma Linda University

    Loma Linda 5367696, California 5332921 92354
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • UCLA Stein Eye Institute

    Pasadena 5381396, California 5332921 91103
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Regents of the University of California, Davis, DBA University of California, Davis

    Sacramento 5389489, California 5332921 95817
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco 5391959, California 5332921 94110
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • National Ophthalmic Research Institute

    Fort Myers, Florida 33912
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Florida Retina Institute, James A. Staman, MD, PA- Jacksonville

    Jacksonville, Florida 32216
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Florida- Jacksonville

    Jacksonville, Florida 32209
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Florida Retina Consultants

    Lakeland, Florida 33805
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Florida Retina Institute, James A. Staman, MD, PA- Orlando

    Orlando, Florida 32806-1101
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Southeast Eye Institute, P.A. dba Eye Associates of Pinellas

    Pinellas Park, Florida 33782
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina Vitreous Consultants, LLP

    Sarasota, Florida 34233-1261
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Sarasota Retina Institute

    Sarasota, Florida 34239
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • SEASHORE RETINA LLC DBA Retina Specialists of Tampa

    Wesley Chapel, Florida 33544
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • National Ophthalmic Research Institute

    Fort Myers 4155995, Florida 4155751 33912
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Florida Retina Institute, James A. Staman, MD, PA- Jacksonville

    Jacksonville 4160021, Florida 4155751 32216
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Florida- Jacksonville

    Jacksonville 4160021, Florida 4155751 32209
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Florida Retina Consultants

    Lakeland 4161438, Florida 4155751 33805
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Florida Retina Institute, James A. Staman, MD, PA- Orlando

    Orlando 4167147, Florida 4155751 32806-1101
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Southeast Eye Institute, P.A. dba Eye Associates of Pinellas

    Pinellas Park 4168630, Florida 4155751 33782
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina Vitreous Consultants, LLP

    Sarasota 4172131, Florida 4155751 34233-1261
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Sarasota Retina Institute

    Sarasota 4172131, Florida 4155751 34239
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • SEASHORE RETINA LLC DBA Retina Specialists of Tampa

    Wesley Chapel 4177727, Florida 4155751 33544
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Southeast Retina Center, P.C.

    Augusta, Georgia 30909
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Marietta Eye Clinic

    Marietta, Georgia 30060
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Thomas Eye Group

    Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Southeast Retina Center, P.C.

    Augusta 4180531, Georgia 4197000 30909
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Marietta Eye Clinic

    Marietta 4207783, Georgia 4197000 30060
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Thomas Eye Group

    Sandy Springs 4221333, Georgia 4197000 30328
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois 60611
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Rush University Medical Center

    Chicago, Illinois 60612
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Illinois Retina Associates SC - Oak Park Site

    Oak Park, Illinois 60304
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago 4887398, Illinois 4896861 60611
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Rush University Medical Center

    Chicago 4887398, Illinois 4896861 60612
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • UIC - Dept of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

    Chicago 4887398, Illinois 4896861 60612
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Illinois Retina Associates SC - Oak Park Site

    Oak Park 4904381, Illinois 4896861 60304
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Midwest Eye Institute

    Indianapolis, Indiana 46290
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • John Kenyon American Eye Institute, LLC

    New Albany, Indiana 47150
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Midwest Eye Institute

    Indianapolis 4259418, Indiana 4921868 46290
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • John Kenyon American Eye Institute, LLC

    New Albany 4262045, Indiana 4921868 47150
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Wolfe Eye Clinic-Cedar Rapids

    Hiawatha, Iowa 52233
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Wolfe Clinic, P.C.- West Des Moines

    West Des Moines, Iowa 50266-7705
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Wolfe Eye Clinic-Cedar Rapids

    Hiawatha 4860452, Iowa 4862182 52233
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Wolfe Clinic, P.C.- West Des Moines

    West Des Moines 4881346, Iowa 4862182 50266-7705
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Mid-America Retina Consultants, P.A.

    Overland Park, Kansas 66211
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Mid-America Retina Consultants, P.A.

    Overland Park 4276873, Kansas 4273857 66211
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc.

    Prairie Village 4277718, Kansas 4273857 66208
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Joseph E. Humble and Raymond Haik PTRS DBA Eye Assoc of Northeast Louisiana

    West Monroe, Louisiana 71291-4452
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Joseph E. Humble and Raymond Haik PTRS DBA Eye Assoc of Northeast Louisiana

    West Monroe 4345850, Louisiana 4331987 71291-4452
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Elman Retina Group, P.A.

    Baltimore, Maryland 21237
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Elman Retina Group, P.A.

    Baltimore 4347778, Maryland 4361885 21237
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons

    Ayer, Massachusetts 01432
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Boston Medical Center Corporation

    Boston, Massachusetts 02118
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Joslin Diabetes Center

    Boston, Massachusetts 02215
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons

    Ayer 4929501, Massachusetts 6254926 01432
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Boston Medical Center Corporation

    Boston 4930956, Massachusetts 6254926 02118
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Joslin Diabetes Center

    Boston 4930956, Massachusetts 6254926 02215
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Henry Ford Health System

    Detroit, Michigan 48202-2689
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Foundation for Vision Research and Retina Specialists of Michigan, P.C.

    Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Vitreo-Retinal Associates

    Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Henry Ford Health System

    Detroit 4990729, Michigan 5001836 48202-2689
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Foundation for Vision Research and Retina Specialists of Michigan, P.C.

    Grand Rapids 4994358, Michigan 5001836 49546
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Vitreo-Retinal Associates

    Grand Rapids 4994358, Michigan 5001836 49546
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina Center, PA DBA Retina Center of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota 55905
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina Center, PA DBA Retina Center of Minnesota

    Minneapolis 5037649, Minnesota 5037779 55404
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester 5043473, Minnesota 5037779 55905
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • The Curators of the University of Missouri

    Columbia, Missouri 65201-5276
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina Research Institute, LLC

    Saint Louis, Missouri 63128-1729
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • The Curators of the University of Missouri

    Columbia 4381982, Missouri 4398678 65201-5276
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina Research Institute, LLC

    St Louis 4407066, Missouri 4398678 63128-1729
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Washington University Ophthalmology

    St Louis 4407066, Missouri 4398678 63110
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina-Vitreous Surgeons of Central NY, PC

    Liverpool, New York 13088
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • MaculaCare

    New York, New York 10021
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina Associates of Western NY, P.C.

    Rochester, New York 14620-4655
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Pamela Weber, MD/Island Retina

    Shirley, New York 11967
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina-Vitreous Surgeons of Central NY, PC

    Liverpool 5124925, New York 5128638 13088
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • MaculaCare

    New York 5128581, New York 5128638 10021
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina Associates of Western NY, P.C.

    Rochester 5134086, New York 5128638 14620-4655
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Pamela Weber, MD/Island Retina

    Shirley 5138022, New York 5128638 11967
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill 4460162, North Carolina 4482348 27517
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation DBA Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

    Cleveland, Ohio 44120
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation DBA Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

    Cleveland 5150529, Ohio 5165418 44120
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Dean A. McGee Eye Institute

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Dean A. McGee Eye Institute

    Oklahoma City 4544349, Oklahoma 4544379 73104
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Verum Research LLC

    Eugene, Oregon 97401
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Oregon Health & Science University

    Portland, Oregon 97239
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina Consultants, LLC

    Salem, Oregon 97302
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Cascade Medical Research Institute, LLC

    Springfield, Oregon 97477
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Verum Research LLC

    Eugene 5725846, Oregon 5744337 97401
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Oregon Health & Science University

    Portland 5746545, Oregon 5744337 97239
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina Consultants, LLC

    Salem 5750162, Oregon 5744337 97302
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Cascade Medical Research Institute, LLC

    Springfield 5754005, Oregon 5744337 97477
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina-Vitreous Consultants, Inc.

    Monroeville, Pennsylvania 15146
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Pittsburg Clinical Trial Consortium

    Sewickley, Pennsylvania 15143
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina-Vitreous Consultants, Inc.

    Monroeville 5201734, Pennsylvania 6254927 15146
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Pittsburg Clinical Trial Consortium

    Sewickley 5211506, Pennsylvania 6254927 15143
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Southeastern Retina Associates, P.C.

    Knoxville, Tennessee 37922
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Vanderbilt Eye Institute

    Nashville, Tennessee 37232
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Southeastern Retina Associates, P.C.

    Knoxville 4634946, Tennessee 4662168 37922
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Vanderbilt Eye Institute

    Nashville 4644585, Tennessee 4662168 37232
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Austin Research Center for Retina

    Austin, Texas 78705
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Austin Retina Associates

    Austin, Texas 78705
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina Consultants of Texas

    Beaumont, Texas 77707
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retina Consultants of Texas, PA

    Bellaire, Texas 77401
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor Eye Physicians and Surgeons

    Houston, Texas 77030-4101
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Texas Retina Associates

    Lubbock, Texas 79424
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Retinal Consultants of San Antonio

    San Antonio, Texas 78240
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Austin Research Center for Retina

    Austin 4671654, Texas 4736286 78705
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Austin Retina Associates

    Austin 4671654, Texas 4736286 78705
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina Consultants of Texas

    Beaumont 4672989, Texas 4736286 77707
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retina Consultants of Texas, PA

    Bellaire 4673353, Texas 4736286 77401
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor Eye Physicians and Surgeons

    Houston 4699066, Texas 4736286 77030-4101
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Texas Retina Associates

    Lubbock 5525577, Texas 4736286 79424
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Retinal Consultants of San Antonio

    San Antonio 4726206, Texas 4736286 78240
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Washington

    Seattle, Washington 98104
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • University of Washington

    Seattle 5809844, Washington 5815135 98104
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Gunderson Health System

    La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Eye Clinic of Wisconsin

    Wausau, Wisconsin 54403
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Gunderson Health System

    La Crosse 5258957, Wisconsin 5279468 54601
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Eye Clinic of Wisconsin

    Wausau 5278120, Wisconsin 5279468 54403
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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