Comparison of corneal safety and intraocular pressure-lowering effect of tafluprost ophthalmic solution with other prostaglandin ophthalmic solutions

• Published in: Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics Vol. 30; no. 4; p. 340
• Main Authors: Kumagami, Takeshi, Wakiyama, Harumi, Kusano, Mao, Kajiyama, Ayano, Miura, Yoko, Uematsu, Masafumi, Yoneda, Ai, Kurihara, Junko, Suzuma, Kiyoshi, Kitaoka, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Benzalkonium Compounds - adverse effects; Cloprostenol - analogs & derivatives; Cloprostenol - therapeutic use; Cornea - drug effects; Corneal Diseases - drug therapy; Female; Humans; Intraocular Pressure - drug effects; Male; Ophthalmic Solutions - therapeutic use; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical - adverse effects; Prostaglandins - therapeutic use; Prostaglandins F - therapeutic use; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic - therapeutic use; Travoprost
• ISSN: 1557-7732
• DOI: 10.1089/jop.2013.0132

The benzalkonium chloride (BAK) content of tafluprost ophthalmic solution (Tapros(®): tafluprost) has been reduced to balance corneal safety and preservative effectiveness (old formulation: 0.01%; new formulation: 0.001%). However, no reports have been published on its clinical effect. Therefore, we conducted a clinical research study to compare the safety of BAK-reduced tafluprost on the ocular surface with other prostaglandin ophthalmic solutions. This clinical study included 28 glaucoma patients (28 eyes) with a treatment history of latanoprost ophthalmic solution (Xalatan(®)) or travoprost ophthalmic solution (Travatan Z(®)), who presented with corneal epithelial disorders. The subjects were switched to BAK-reduced tafluprost, and its effect on the ocular surface was examined after 1 and 2 months of treatment [using fluorescein staining score, hyperemia, tear film breakup time, and intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering]. In all analyzed subjects (N=27), the fluorescein staining score was significantly improved after switching to BAK-reduced tafluprost (P<0.0001). Conversely, the IOP-lowering effect was not notably changed. The subjects switched from latanoprost (n=10) showed significant improvement in fluorescein staining score (P<0.05) as well as in IOP lowering (P<0.01). The subjects switched from travoprost (n=17) also showed significant improvement in fluorescein staining score (P<0.001), but without a significant change in IOP lowering. Tafluprost with reduced BAK has potential as a superior antiglaucoma drug, not only for its IOP-lowering effect, but also for its good corneal safety profile.