Fixed combination of travoprost and timolol maleate reduces intraocular pressure in Japanese patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: analysis by prostaglandin analogue

Introduction

Prostaglandin analogue (PGA) is currently the first-line therapy with ophthalmic solution for glaucoma and is considered a potent agent for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP).^1,2 Over 40% of glaucoma patients require further reduction of IOP owing to the chronic progressive nature of the disease.^2,3

The fixed combination (FC) drug containing PGA and a β-blocker has additional IOP-lowering effects and no major safety issues when switching from PGA.^4–8 The additional administration of an ophthalmic solution has been shown to reduce medication adherence,⁹ a key factor in the success or failure of treatment.¹⁰ A recently developed FC drug containing PGA and a β-blocker did not increase the frequency of instillation and therefore exhibited additional IOP-lowering effects as well as a favorable effect on medication adherence.^11,12

In the previous report, we examined the efficacy of travoprost/timolol fixed combination (TTFC: DuoTrav^®, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, USA) in patients who had switched from one of four PGAs approved for use in Japan (travoprost, latanoprost, tafluprost, and bimatoprost), including those with IOP values ≤19 mmHg before the switch. Linear multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors affecting IOP reduction in patients who could be followed up for a minimum of 4 weeks after the instillation of TTFC. Preceding PGA and baseline IOPs were found to be statistically and clinically significant factors affecting IOP reduction. Subgroup analysis of IOP reduction by baseline IOP was performed, and significant reductions were observed in proportion to the baseline IOP.¹³

This report aimed to examine the IOP-lowering effect by preceding PGA in patients with glaucoma.

Methods

Subjects

Patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG, broad sense) and ocular hypertension (OH) receiving monotherapy with one of the four PGAs approved for use in Japan were included in this study. The attending physician for various reasons, including progression of visual field disturbance and insufficient IOP control, prescribed additional administration of ophthalmic solution for these patients. The exclusion criteria were as follows: a mean visual field deviation of <−20 dB; history of hypersensitivity to β-blockers or conditions where β-blockers are contraindicated (eg, bronchial asthma, inadequately controlled cardiac failure); concurrent, chronic or recurrent uveal inflammation, scleral inflammation, or corneal herpes; history of ocular trauma, internal eye surgery, or laser surgery within 3 months before the baseline examination; difficulty in undergoing applanation tonometry; use of corticosteroid ophthalmic solution; serious ocular complication; pregnant or lactating women; and severe dementia. In addition, patients with serious ocular complications and those determined to be inappropriate to participate in the study by their primary physician were excluded from the study. Gender and the presence or absence of dry eye were not evaluated at the time of enrollment in the study.

Procedures

This study was approved by the respective institutional ethical review boards of the Jikei University School of Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Nakano General Hospital, Fussa Hospital, Fukui-ken Saiseikai Hospital, and Minami Matsuyama Hospital, as well as by the ethical review board of Kita-machi Clinic for other institutions.

Potential subjects who met the inclusion criteria received sufficient explanation regarding the study and information concerning the treatment according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients included in the study.

A single drop of TTFC was instilled into the conjunctival sac of one or both eyes of the patients once a day in the morning, 1 day after discontinuation of PGA.

During the study period, IOP was measured twice by the same examiner using the Goldmann applanation tonometer, and the mean of the measurement values was adopted. In principle, IOP was measured ~2 hours from the time of initial measurement. We examined safety endpoint by preceding 4 PGAs. This study was conducted between August 2011 and March 2013.

Statistical analysis

IOP values and changes in these values from baseline were considered as the efficacy end points, whereas adverse events and symptoms such as Superficial Punctate Keratitis (SPK and hyperemia were taken as the safety end points.

The eye with a higher eligible baseline IOP, or the right eye in cases where the IOP of both eyes was equivalent, was used as the study eye. IOP reduction by preceding PGA was investigated with mean IOP changes from baseline values adjusted by a regression model, as described in our previous report.¹³ Furthermore, descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation (SD) of the IOP value at each visit were provided in order to examine the IOP profile of the patient throughout the study period after switching to TTFC. Missing IOP values after a period of 4 weeks were imputed with preceding measured values (last observation carried forward; LOCF method).

Analysis was conducted by QOL RD Co., Ltd (Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and SOC Corporation (Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo). The software used for the analyses was JMP ver. 9.0 and SAS^® 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

Results

Of 166 patients who provided informed consent, 162 (97.6%) satisfied the inclusion criteria and five dropped out within 4 weeks (three discontinued at their own discretion, two made no hospital visits); thus, a total of 157 patients (96.9%) who could be followed up for more than 4 weeks were included in the final efficacy analysis set. These 157 patients included 54 men and 103 women, with a mean age of 66.6±11.3 years (age range, 39–88 years). As shown in Table 1, of the four preceding PGAs used, travoprost was most commonly administered (n=70, 44.6%), followed by latanoprost (n=45, 28.7%), tafluprost (n=29, 18.5%), and bimatoprost (n=13, 8.3%). Mean IOP changes from baseline at 12 weeks adjusted with a linear regression model were −1.4 mmHg in travoprost, −1.8 mmHg in latanoprost, −3.5 mmHg in the tafluprost group (P<0.0001), and −0.5 mmHg in the bimatoprost group (P=0.3720; Table 2). However, baseline IOPs before switching were different among the four PGA groups: 16.1±2.6 mmHg in the travoprost group, 15.6±2.9 mmHg in the latanoprost group, 17.5±3.2 mmHg in the tafluprost group, and 17.2±5.1 mmHg in the bimatoprost group (Table 3). To examine IOP profile irrespective of baseline IOP after switching to TTFC, descriptive statistics (arithmetic mean and SD) of the IOP values were provided for each PGA group (Table 3). Patients who switched from travoprost, latanoprost, and tafluprost presented with IOP values ranging from 13.8 to 14.8 mmHg from weeks 4 to 12 after switching to TTFC, and showed IOP reductions of 1 mmHg or more when compared to baseline values; whereas the IOP values of patients in the bimatoprost group ranged from 15.4 to 17.5 mmHg (Table 3). Missing IOP values were observed in four patients belonging to the travoprost, latanoprost, and tafluprost groups, and in two patients from the bimatoprost group.

Table 1 Demographic data of per protocol set Abbreviations: IOP, intraocular pressure; MD, mean deviation; PSD, pattern standard deviation; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Least-squares mean of IOP changes from baseline at 12 weeks (mmHg) Note: Least squares means and confidence intervals were based on a multiple linear model. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; IOP, intraocular pressure; LSM, least squares mean.

Table 3 Summary of measured IOP Abbreviations: IOP, intraocular pressure; SD, standard deviation.

SPK was compared against baseline values for each PGA by dividing the cornea into five quadrants. No clinically significant worsening was noticed in any of the groups (Table 4). Similarly, no clinically significant worsening of conjunctival hyperemia was observed in the patients after switching from PGA to TTFC (Table 4).

Table 4 Superficial punctate keratopathy scores and conjunctival hyperemia scores Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

During the study period, 43 adverse events occurred in 27 (16.3%) of the 166 patients; of these, 26 (15.7%) patients presented with 42 adverse drug reactions whose causal relationship with TTFC could not be ruled out. All events ranged from mild to moderate in intensity. In the case of preceding PGA administration, seven events had occurred in six patients in the travoprost group, 14 events in nine patients in the latanoprost group, 18 events in nine patients in the tafluprost group, and three events in two patients in the bimatoprost group (Table 5).

Table 5 Adverse events related to the study drug

Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were maintained at 127.9–138.3 and 72.4–81.9 mmHg, respectively, in all groups during the study period, whereas mean pulse rate was maintained at 63.0–75.6 bpm.

Discussion

In our previous report, we showed the safety and efficacy of switching from PGA to TTFC in Japanese patients with POAG and OH.¹³ We had performed a multiple linear regression analysis in order to identify the factors that affect the reduction of IOP 12 weeks after switching to TTFC; types of preceding PGA treatments, age, sex, baseline IOP, dosing period of premedication, baseline MD, and baseline PSD were set as independent variables, and changes from baseline in IOP at 12 weeks was used as the dependent variable in that study. Multiple linear regression is ordinarily used as a statistical method to identify the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Baseline IOP and PGA were selected as significant factors (statistical and clinical) that may have an effect on IOP reduction at 12 weeks. In the present report, we analyzed and compared the IOP-lowering effect of four preceding PGAs, since we had already examined the association between baseline IOP values and the changes from baseline values in our previous report; we found that the higher the baseline IOP, the larger the reduction in IOP.¹³

The mean IOP reductions at 12 weeks after switching from the three PGAs, except for bimatoprost, to TTFC, were −3.5, −1.8, and −1.4 mmHg in the tafluprost, latanoprost, and travoprost groups (P<0.0001), showing additional IOP-lowering effect, respectively. Since only IOP reduction using a regression model was evaluated in the above analysis, the descriptive statistics of the IOP (arithmetic mean and SD) at baseline as well as at observation time points of 4, 8, and 12 weeks after switching to TTFC were also calculated in order to examine the changes in IOP in more detail. There was a maximum difference of ~2 mmHg in baseline IOP between the four groups. However, patients in the tafluprost, latanoprost, and travoprost groups maintained mean IOP values ranging from 13.8 to 14.8 mmHg from weeks 4 to 12 after switching to TTFC, and showed a mean IOP reduction of 1 mmHg or more when compared to the baseline. Patients in bimatoprost group presented with mean IOP values of 15.4 to 17.5 mmHg from weeks 4 to 12. These findings indicate the clinically significant IOP-lowering effect of TTFC when switching from PGA, except for bimatoprost.

The largest IOP reduction was observed in patients belonging to the tafluprost group, followed by those in the travoprost and latanoprost groups. The IOP-lowering effect of tafluprost cannot be sufficiently evaluated because of the fewer number of reports available when compared to those of other PGAs; some of these reports indicate that the effect of tafluprost might be slightly inferior to those of the other PGAs.^14–16 In the present report, it is suggested that the IOP-lowering effect of TTFC may reflect not only the additional effect of the β-blocker but also the changes in PGA when switching from tafluprost.

Stable IOP-lowering effect was also observed after switching from travoprost to TTFC, demonstrating the effect of adding a β component while switching to a compounded drug. TTFC has been reported to have a neutral pH, which allows for the high permeability of the β component into the eye.¹⁷ Quaranta et al discussed the IOP-lowering effect of TTFC when switched from travoprost monotherapy in their review report.^18,19 From their reports there is a possibility of greater IOP-lowering effect of TTFC when switched from travoprost than other FC when switched from each PGA. This feature may be reflected in the results of the present study.

The mean IOP level was maintained at 13.8–14.2 mmHg throughout the study period, and additional IOP-lowering effects of 1.4–1.8 mmHg were observed in patients who switched from latanoprost to TTFC. Furthermore, the baseline IOP was lower in this group when compared to the other three groups. There are a lot of patients with normal tension glaucoma in Japan,^20,21 and several of them often require further IOP reduction due to progression of visual field disturbance.²² The results of the present study suggest that switching to combination drugs such as TTFC is useful for patients with adequately lowered IOP, and that TTFC can be an option while considering a switch from latanoprost to a combination drug containing PGA.

Meanwhile, no IOP reduction was noted in patients switching from bimatoprost to TTFC. Bimatoprost has been reported to have the most superior IOP-lowering effect,¹⁴ and there is a possibility that the effect of switching to the FC has not been clearly exhibited in the present report because IOP was already reduced to adequate levels. In addition, among the four types of PGA approved for use in Japan, the number of patients using bimatoprost is small, thus a sufficient number of patients could not be enrolled in this group in the study. Hence, more patients may be needed to examine the efficacy in future studies.

Safety was examined in each group considering the possibility that there might be a difference in the trend of adverse drug reactions by preceding PGA; however, no apparent differences were noted.

The IOP-lowering effect of TTFC had some differences between previous PGA groups. Nevertheless, there was an imbalance in the number of patients in each PGA group in this study. Moreover, owing to the absence of randomization, there were discrepancies in the distributions of the baseline characteristics of the patients resulting in insufficient statistical accuracy, which is a limitation of this study. The usefulness of switching to combination drugs from PGA can be further exhibited by planning a prospective confirmatory study with randomization of the premedication.

Meanwhile, the importance of adherence to instillation therapy is attracting attention as a measure against visual function impairment associated with glaucoma.²³ The use of FC drugs requiring no increase in the number of ophthalmic solutions has been reported to actually achieve favorable adherence.²⁴

In conclusion, the findings of this study show that switching from tafluprost, latanoprost, and travoprost to TTFC achieved further clinically significant IOP-lowering effect, revealing no major safety issues, thereby indicating the usefulness of switching to a combination drug in patients receiving PGA.

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted with funding and support from the Japan Association of Health Service and Alcon Japan Ltd. The article processing charges and open access fee for this publication were funded by Alcon Japan Ltd. The assistance service for English language editing was funded by Alcon Japan Ltd.

IOP Checked and Assessed in Normal tension Glaucoma by Exceptional glaucomatologists 2 (I.CHANGE2) study group: Okazaki Eye Clinic, Hokkaido, Japan: Hiroko Okazaki; Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan: Nobuo Fuse; Kido Eye Clinic, Niigata, Japan: Motohiro Shirakashi; Yaoeda Eye Clinic, Niigata, Japan: Kiyoshi Yaoeda; Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan: Itaru Kimura; Department of Ophthalmology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan: Tadashi Nakano; Yoshikawa Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan: Keiji Yoshikawa; Ueno Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan: Tairo Kimura; Nakano General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan: Hirotaka Suzumura; Department of Ophthalmology, Fussa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan: Toyoaki Tsumura; Nihonmatsu Eye Hospital, Tokyo, Japan: Mami Nanno; Nishikamakura Tanino Eye Clinic, Kanagawa, Japan: Tomihiko Tanino; Department of Ophthalmology, Fukui-ken Saiseikai Hospital, Fukui, Japan: Koji Nitta; Tajimi Iwase Eye Clinic, Gifu, Japan: Aiko Iwase; Yamabayashi Eye Clinic, Aichi, Japan: Shigeki Yamabayashi; Reiko Eye Clinic, Osaka, Japan: Reiko Sugimoto; Hirakata Yamagishi Eye Clinic, Osaka, Japan: Kazuya Yamagishi; Kozaki Eye Clinic, Osaka, Japan: Jun Kozaki; Sagara Eye Clinic, Yamaguchi, Japan: Takeshi Sagara; Department of Ophthalmology, Minami-Matsuyama Hospital, Ehime, Japan: Shiro Mizoue; Mizoguchi Eye Clinic, Nagasaki, Japan: Takanori Mizoguchi; Ozaki Eye Clinic, Miyazaki, Japan: Mineo Ozaki; Unoki Eye Clinic, Kagoshima, Japan: Kazuhiko Unoki; Nakamura Eye Clinic, Okinawa, Japan: Yoshimi Nakamura.

Author contributions

All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All authors take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval for the current version to be published. All authors had full access to all of the data in this study and take complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis.

Disclosures

Tadashi Nakano has received consultant fees from Topcon Corporation and lecture fees from Alcon Japan Ltd, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, R-Tech Ueno Ltd, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Carl Zeiss Co., Ltd, Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, MSD K.K., and Pfizer Japan Inc. Shiro Mizoue has received lecture fees from Alcon Japan Ltd, Pfizer Japan Inc., MSD K.K, NIDEK Co., Ltd, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, KOWA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, R-Tech Ueno Ltd, and Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Nobuo Fuse has received lecture fees from Alcon Japan Ltd, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Pfizer Japan Inc., R-Tech Ueno Ltd, and MSD K.K. Aiko Iwase has a patent for Topcon Corporation and received payment for clinical trial from Heidelberg Engineering, Inc., Topcon Corporation and Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, and lecture fees from Alcon Japan Ltd, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Carl Zeiss Co., Ltd, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, KOWA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Topcon Corporation and Pfizer Japan Inc. Shun Matsumoto has received lecture fees from Alcon Japan Ltd, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, and Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Keiji Yoshikawa has received fees for expert testimony from Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, and lecture fees from Alcon Japan Ltd, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Pfizer Japan Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, R-Tech Ueno Ltd, Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, KOWA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, and MSD KK. The authors report no other conflicts of interest related to this work.

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