Local tolerance and activity of MK-927, a novel topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

A three-dose, randomized, double-masked, parallel, placebo-controlled ocular tolerance study was undertaken in 12 healthy, normal volunteers with the water-soluble, topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor MK-927. To our knowledge, this constitutes the first administration of MK-927 to humans. Ten subjects received three drops of 2% MK-927 ophthalmic solution and two subjects received three drops of placebo (vehicle) in one randomly selected eye. Local tolerance of 2% MK-927 was acceptable and supports further clinical trials in patients. Significant intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering activity was noted when comparing IOP four hours after first dose with that 20 hours predose in the treated eye of subjects receiving MK-927 (mean percent change in IOP, -29.7%; mean change in IOP, -4.6 mm Hg) as opposed to the same comparison for the contralateral, untreated eye (-7.2% and -1.3 mm Hg, respectively). In the two subjects treated with placebo, IOP-lowering activity was not seen in either the placebo-treated eye (-0.4%) or the contralateral, untreated eye (+3.1%).