The data show that the IOP-lowering benefit of adjunctive therapy with XALATAN once daily was sustainable over 5 years. IOP was reduced by an average of 6.3 mmHg at 36 months, 5.9 mmHg at 48 months, and 6.0 mmHg at 60 months. During the 5-year study, IOP was well controlled without treatment modification or the need for surgery in 72 percent of patients.
"This study shows that XALATAN is effective and well tolerated both locally and systemically for long-term management of elevated IOP in open-angle glaucoma as adjunctive therapy," said Professor Albert Alm, Department of Ophthalmology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
The study was conducted as a two-year extension of a three-year open-label trial in 519 patients with OAG and uncontrolled IOP, despite previous treatment; there were 380 participants in the two-year extension. IOP was measured regularly every four months until month 48, and then every six months.
Increased iris pigmentation was reported during the study - an effect which is seen with all ophthalmic prostaglandin OAG therapies - particularly in patients with green-brown, yellow-brown or blue-grey/brown irides.
Pharmacia Corporation manufactures XALATAN® (latanoprost ophthalmic solution), the world's number one brand of glaucoma medication based on value share. XALATAN is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma, chronic angle closure glaucoma, and ocular hypertension. The most commonly reported side effects in eyes of patients treated with XALATAN for 6 months in clinical trials include eye irritation, eyelid redness, irritation of the clear front part surface of the eye, eyelid inflammation, darkening of eye colour, and eye pain. XALATAN may gradually change the eye colour in the treated eye by increasing the amount of brown colour; this colour change may be permanent
Notes to Editors
XALATAN® is a registered trademark of Pharmacia Corporation.
Websites: www.pharmacia.com and www.xalatan.com