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Safety of Unoprostone Isopropyl as Mono- or Adjunctive Therapy in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

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Abstract

This review summarises the safety of unoprostone isopropyl (both at the 0.12 and 0.15% concentrations) instilled twice daily in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH). For unoprostone 0.15%, combined data from two 12-month comparative monotherapy studies are reported, as well as data from three adjunctive therapy studies and two special population studies. With unoprostone monotherapy, most adverse events were mild or moderate and transient in nature. Less than 7% of unoprostone-treated patients discontinued therapy due to an adverse event. The most common adverse events associated with unoprostone were burning/stinging, burning/stinging directly upon drug instillation, ocular itching, and conjunctival hyperaemia. Unoprostone had no clinically notable effects on vital signs, laboratory profiles, or comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. One of 659 unoprostone 0.15%-treated patients had a change in iris colour after 12 months of monotherapy. Except for a higher incidence of burning/stinging and burning/stinging upon instillation, unoprostone was comparable to timolol 0.5% twice daily and betaxolol 0.5% twice daily. No safety concerns were raised with use of unoprostone as adjunctive therapy. Unoprostone had no significant effect on exercise-induced heart rate in healthy subjects or on pulmonary function in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma. The safety profile of unoprostone 0.15% was consistent with published information on the 0.12% formulation. In conclusion, unoprostone has an excellent safety profile in patients with POAG or OH.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the medical writing assistance of Joan C. Rivers, Ph.D., with Diamond Communications & Research, Inc. (Rabun Gap, Georgia, USA).

This publication was sponsored by Novartis Ophthalmics, the manufacturer of unoprostone isopropyl (Rescula®) in the US and Europe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Sao Paulo-Paulista School of Medicine and Director Residency Training, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Paulo Augusto de Arruda Mello

  2. Novartis Ophthalmics AG, Bülach, Switzerland

    Natalia C. Yannoulis

  3. Novartis Ophthalmics, Inc., 11695 Johns Creek Parkway, Duluth, Georgia, 30097, USA

    Reza M. Haque

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  1. Paulo Augusto de Arruda Mello
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  2. Natalia C. Yannoulis
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  3. Reza M. Haque
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Correspondence to Reza M. Haque.

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de Arruda Mello, P.A., Yannoulis, N.C. & Haque, R.M. Safety of Unoprostone Isopropyl as Mono- or Adjunctive Therapy in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension. Drug-Safety 25, 583–597 (2002). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200225080-00004

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