Preservative-free Therapy Launches to Reduce Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma

Thea Pharma has launched a preservative-free version of latanoprost, Iyuzeh, to reduce elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT).

Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve. Primary open angle glaucoma is a progressive condition that is characterized by raised intraocular pressure and a normal anterior chamber angle (part of the eye located between the cornea and the iris)

Iyuzeh, which was approved in December 2022, does not need to be distributed or stored at refrigerated temperatures unlike some other latanoprost and prostaglandin products. Long-term use of eye care products with preservatives can have negative impacts on the ocular surface.

Iyuzeh has a list price of $299 for month supply, according to a company spokesperson. Thea is offering Iyuzeh a patient access program through PhilRx, a third-party vendor, and through the Thea Savings Card for about $60 (with up to $250 savings) for a 30-day prescription, with a maximum of $3,000 a year. Terms of the offer indicate that the saving card is for patients and is intended to be credited toward patient out-of-pocket obligations and maximums,

In clinical trials of patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, Iyuzeh lowered intraocular pressure by 3 – 8 mmHg compared with 4 – 8 mmHg by Pfizer’s Xalatan, which is preserved with benzalkonium chloride.

Susan Benton

In March 2023, Thea presented data at the 2023 American Glaucoma Society (AGS) Annual Meeting of the pivotal trial comparing Iyuzeh with Xalatan. The study followed 334 patients over 84 days. It demonstrated that Iyuzeh had similar clinically meaningful reductions in IOP from baseline with fewer ocular adverse events. Less than 2% of patients in the Iyuzeh group experienced instillation site pain, pruritis or conjunctival hyperemia, which leads to dilation of blood vessel.

“The harmful effects of preservatives on ocular surface health are well documented,” Susan Benton, president of Thea, said in a press release. “We have solved the challenge of creating a room temperature-stable, efficacious, and preservative-free latanoprost eye drop.”

Iyuzeh has been marketed outside of the United States under the brand name Monoprost for 10 years in 46 countries.

This story first appeared on Managed Healthcare Executive.