Pharmacia launches dual glaucomatherapy

A topical combination therapy for glaucoma that takes the form of a once-daily drop has been introduced by Pharmacia. Xalacom combines two of the most widely prescribed topical glaucoma medications, Xalatan (latanoprost) and timolol maleate, but is said to be more effective at lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) than either of its components administered alone.

One of the main advantages of the combined treatment, according to Pharmacia, is that it is very simple and convenient to use; this could improve patient compliance, one of the main challenges in managing the treatment of glaucoma. This will allow physicians to implement more aggressive, convenient and well-tolerated strategies to lower intraocular pressure, the company claims, to help arrest glaucomatous progression in patients insufficiently responsive to a monotherapy trial with one glaucoma medication.

Large, long-term clinical trials have shown that Xalacom provides significantly greater IOP reductions than either timolol or Xalatan alone, with IOP reductions maintained for the entire duration of the one-year study.