To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Xalatan (Latanoprost) Reduces Intraocular Eye Pressure Better Than Trusopt (Dorzolamide) URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1E4BD2.htm Doctor's Guide October 17, 2000
PEAPACK, NJ -- October 17, 2000 -- In a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology Xalatan® (latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.005% once daily provided a significantly greater reduction of intraocular eye pressure (IOP) than Trusopt® (dorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 2.0% three times daily. This study demonstrated that Xalatan is a highly effective medication that lowers IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Xalatan is the world's top-selling glaucoma product and one of Pharmacia Corporation's top-selling global products, with over 30 million prescriptions written to date. In the United States, Xalatan is indicated for the reduction of elevated IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension who re intolerant of other IOP-lowering medictions or insufficiently responsive (failed to achieve target IOP determined after multiple measurements over time) to another IOP lowering medication. "There is significant evidence to show that one drop of Xalatan given on a daily basis will result in the substantial lowering of eye pressure," remarked E.P. O'Donoghue, M.D. of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University College Hospital, Galway, Ireland, and principal investigator of the study. "The convenience of once a day dosing may also increase patient compliance which remains an issue for patients on long term drug therapy." The three month, randomized open-label study performed in the United Kingdom and Ireland involved 224 patients with open-angle glaucoma, capsular glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Effectiveness was judged from the reduction on diurnal IOP and the effect on IOP at peak (maximum effect) and trough (minimum effect). Xalatan reduced mean baseline diurnal IOP of 27.2 mmHg by 8.5 mmHg. The corresponding figures for Trusopt were 27.2 mmHg and 5.6 mmHg. The difference in IOP reduction of 2.9 mmHg, or 52 percent between treatments showed Xalatan to be more effective at lowering diurnal IOP than dorzolamide in this study (p<0.001). The mean IOP reduction for Xalatan-treated patients at peak was 8.6 mmHg (32 percent) compared with 6.2 mmHg (23 percent) for Trusopt-treated patients. The corresponding figures at trough were 8.1 mmHg (31 percent) and 4.7 mmHg (17 percent), respectively. Both drugs were well tolerated systemically and locally. The most common ocular side effect was ocular discomfort. Most adverse events were graded mild or moderate. Glaucoma is a complex group of eye disorders having a common feature of optic nerve damage. It is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss affecting more than eight million people worldwide, up to half of whom are undiagnosed. Conditions commonly associated with glaucoma include elevated intraocular eye pressure, cupping of the optic disc and loss of peripheral vision. There are usually no warning signs with glaucoma. Xalatan contains latanoprost, a prostaglandin analog that is a modification of a naturally occurring substance present in the body. In the eye, prostaglandins appear to reduce IOP by increasing the drainage of aqueous humor. The most frequently reported ocular side effect of patients who were treated with Xalatan include blurred vision, burning and stinging, conjunctival hyperemia, foreign-body sensation, itching, increased iris pigmentation, and punctate epithelial keratopathy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.