Abstract

Bimatoprost (AGN 192024) in glaucoma treatment

Author(s): Robert J Noecker and Melissa L Earl

The prostamide bimatoprost (Lumigan^®, Allergan Inc.) has been proven highly effective as monotherapy, adjunctive, and replacement therapy for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) and providing good diurnal control of IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Target pressure results from large, randomized, multicenter clinical trials comparing bimatoprost with timolol, latanoprost (Xalatan^®, Pharmacia & Upjohn), travoprost (Travatan^®, Alcon laboratories), fixed combination timolol/dorzolamide (Cosopt^®, Merck Inc.) or latanoprost and timolol gel have been analyzed. In each of the analyses, patients were more likely to achieve low target pressures with bimatoprost than with the other medications. Patients on bimatoprost therapy achieve low IOP levels that are maintained throughout the day and night, and long-term trials have shown that the efficacy of bimatoprost is sustained. Bimatoprost has been proven to be safe and well tolerated in postmarketing surveillance and, as a once-daily drug, allows for patient convenience resulting in better treatment compliance. Bimatoprost may be the most effective medication available for protecting the visual field in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.