Ruboxistaurin mesilate hydrate for diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy remains a major worldwide cause of preventable blindness. The beta isoform of protein kinase C (PKC) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Ruboxistaurin mesylate hydrate is an orally bioavailable, highly-specific inhibitor of PKC beta, which has shown some efficacy in several large, multicenter, randomized clinical trials. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an approvable letter for ruboxistaurin in 2006, but at this time the medication is not available for routine clinical use.