[Clinical evaluation of UF-021 ophthalmic solution in glaucoma patients refractory to maximum tolerable therapy]

UF-021 ophthalmic solution, a novel prostaglandin-related therapeutic agent for glaucoma, was additionally applied to the eyes in intractable cases of primary open angle glaucoma (14 cases, 21 eyes) and ocular hypertension (1 case, 2 eyes) in which intraocular pressure (IOP) had not been kept under satisfactory control even with combined drug therapy by conventional, existing anti-glaucoma agents including sympathetic beta-blockers. Decrease of IOP by UF-021 ophthalmic solution (0.12%) in the treated eyes was observed from not less than one month after the initial application by 3 mmHg and more in about 85%, and by 5 mmHg and more in about 76% of the enrolled patients, respectively. The IOP reduction induced by the additional application of UF-021 was sustained for more than 6 months, resulting in successful avoidance of surgical operations in many patients. When UF-021 ophthalmic solution was applied concurrently with various anti-glaucoma agents including carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, it caused no controversial side-effects and yielded therapeutic efficacy for a prolonged period. These findings suggest that UF-021 can yield IOP-reducing activity through a novel pharmacological mechanism different from other existing drugs. In conclusion, UF-021 ophthalmic solution is extremely useful for the treatment of glaucoma.