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Fixed-Dose Xalacom (latanoprost/timolol) Effective in Treating Glaucoma, and Patients Express Strong Preference for Single-Drop Regimen: Presented at ARVO

By Earl R. Nichols

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL -- May 9, 2005 -- Patients using latanoprost (Xalatan) and timolol (0.5%) in an unfixed combination to treat their glaucoma experience the same lowering of intraocular pressure when they switch to Xalacom, a single fixed-dose combination of the two drugs.

In a study presented here at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, the reductions in intraocular pressure (IOP) seen with either treatment were similar. However, patients overwhelmingly preferred the fixed-dose agent.

Megumi Iizuka, MD, resident in ophthalmology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, presented the findings of a study on patients with chronic open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were randomized to continue with their usual latanoprost plus timolol regimen (n=25) or receive the fixed-dose, single agent Xalacom (n=24).

Intraocular pressure was measured at baseline and again at weeks 4 and 12. Mean age of patients was 67 years.

Dr. Iizuka reported that there was no significant difference in the IOP reductions at weeks 4 and 12 for the two groups.

Among patients using the two medications concomitantly, the IOP was 15.7 mm Hg at week 4, and 15.5 mm Hg at week 12. For those receiving the fixed dose, the IOP was 16.2 mm Hg at week 4, which was a "weakly significant" change from baseline, Dr. Iizuka said. At week 12, the IOP was 16.2 mm Hg, which was also not a significant difference.

In no case did these changes represent a change of more than 1 mmHg from baseline (i.e., when they were already using latanoprost plus timolol), Dr. Iizuka said.

Adverse events were similar between groups, with 6 patients reporting some ocular or systemic adverse events among the 24 who were using the two drugs separately, compared to 7 of the 23 who used the fixed dose combination.

Although the differences in IOP reduction were not significant in this study, patients expressed a strong preference for the fixed dose combination. All but one said they preferred the single dose fixed combination, and this was reflected in the fact that they felt they were less likely to miss doses because the drug was administered as a single daily drop.

Xalacom is approved for use only in the European Union and in Canada, Dr. Iizuka said.


[Presentation title: Xalacom Fixed Combination versus Timoptic XE and Xalatan Unfixed Combination: A Study of Effectiveness and Safety in the Treatment of Open Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension. Poster 2460/B13]

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