Latanoprost punctal plug shows good results

QLT Inc. announced results from two phase 2 studies showing its latanoprost punctal plug delivery system lowered IOP in patients with ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma.

In the first trial, plugs delivering a total of 141 µg or 90 µg of latanoprost were simultaneously placed in the upper and lower puncta in 57 patients. The second study included 77 patients who received 95 µg of latanoprost via one of three different plug placement configurations.

At 12 weeks, the first study showed a mean reduction in IOP from baseline of at least 5 mmHg in 45 percent of eyes at the 190 µg dose and 27 percent of eyes at the 141 µg dose. In the second study, an IOP reduction of at least 5 mmHg was seen in 52 percent of patients who received a blank plug in the lower punctum and a plug delivering 95 µg in the upper punctum, 59 percent of patients with an open lower punctum and a 95 µg plug in the upper punctum, and 66 percent of patients with a 95 µg plug in the lower punctum and a blank plug in the upper punctum.

The plugs were well tolerated with adverse events similar to those reported for commercially available punctal plugs, according to the company press release.