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Brinzolamide/Brimonidine: A Review of Its Use in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

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Abstract

Brinzolamide 1 %/brimonidine 0.2 % ophthalmic suspension (Simbrinza®) is a fixed-combination of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist that is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in both the USA and EU (with the EU indication restricted to patients for whom monotherapy provides insufficient IOP reduction). In phase III randomized trials, both three-times-daily and twice-daily administration of brinzolamide/brimonidine provided significantly greater IOP-lowering efficacy over 3–6 months than either of its individual components alone, and twice-daily brinzolamide/brimonidine was noninferior to concomitant administration of brinzolamide plus brimonidine over 6 months in this regard. Brinzolamide/brimonidine was generally well tolerated, with a tolerability profile that was consistent with its individual components and with no unexpected safety findings. Therefore, brinzolamide/brimonidine is an effective treatment option for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, providing a convenient alternative for those patients who require multiple IOP-lowering medications. Brinzolamide/brimonidine is the first available fixed-combination that does not contain timolol, and maybe particularly suited to patients with comorbidities that restrict treatment with β-adrenergic receptor antagonists.

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Disclosure

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding. During the peer review process, the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made by the authors on the basis of scientific and editorial merit. Sarah Greig and Emma Deeks are salaried employees of Adis/Springer.

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  1. Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand

    Sarah L. Greig & Emma D. Deeks

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  1. Sarah L. Greig
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  2. Emma D. Deeks
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Correspondence to Sarah L. Greig.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: G. Laganovska, Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia; C. A. B. Webers, University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

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Greig, S.L., Deeks, E.D. Brinzolamide/Brimonidine: A Review of Its Use in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension. Drugs Aging 32, 251–260 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-015-0250-4

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