Brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5%: safety and efficacy of a new fixed-combination IOP-lowering product for glaucoma

Abstract

Objective:

To provide a commentary on recent studies with the new IOP-lowering fixed-combination product brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5%.

Methods:

Medline was searched for brinzolamide/timolol fixed-combination clinical literature (up to May 18, 2010) and the current comprehensive brinzolamide/timolol literature was reviewed.

Results:

Compared with another carbonic anhydrase inhibitor-containing product, dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5%, brinzolamide/timolol has similar IOP-lowering efficacy. Brinzolamide/timolol also produces superior comfort ratings as assessed by patients who have tried both drugs – this may be explained by the more physiologic pH of brinzolamide/timolol. A recent study reported that brinzolamide/timolol was preferred over dorzolamide/timolol at a ratio of nearly 4:1 among those expressing a preference.

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate that brinzolamide/timolol is equally effective and more comfortable than dorzolamide/timolol, a fact that may positively impact patient adherence, leading to an increased likelihood of reaching target IOP goals.

Key words:

• Brinzolamide
• Dorzolamide
• Drug combinations
• Glaucoma
• Intraocular pressure
• Timolol

Transparency

Declaration of funding

Publication support was provided by Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The author has no proprietary interest in the products discussed in this manuscript, nor has any financial support been received. Peer reviewers may receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. The peer reviewers have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgments

Jennifer Klem, PhD, provided medical writing assistance, which was funded by Alcon Laboratories, Inc.