Bimatoprost Implant Effectively Manages Intraocular Pressure For More Than 2 Years

Glaucoma treatments delivered via a bimatoprost-eluting implant can maintain reduced intraocular pressure (IOP) for at least 2 years, according to results of a phase 3 trial. The implant releases the drug for 3 to 4 months. Patients in the trial who were treated with the device required no additional IOP-lowering therapies, say researchers, who presented their findings at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2021 meeting, held virtually from May 1 to May 7. The study was led by glaucoma researcher Felipe Medeiros, MD, PhD, of Duke University.

The research evaluated a biodegradable intracameral implant designed to slowly release the IOP-lowering drug in place of manually applied drops. Clinical trials have shown sustained IOP lowering for patients implanted with the device, even beyond the period of intraocular drug bioavailability.

The study included patients treated with the implant who were enrolled in the ARTEMIS trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02406677). Half of these patients had been treated with a 10 µg bimatoprost implant, the other half with a 15 μg implant. Patients were reviewed at 1 day, 16 weeks, 32 weeks, and 20 months after implantation. Patients whose study eyes did not meet or maintain IOP expectations were “rescued” with topical drops. 

The researchers analyzed 32 study participants who did not require rescue for 2 years or longer after their last implant was administered. The analysis evaluated the duration of IOP control provided by the implant. The mean time without rescue after the last implant administration was 2.6±0.5 years (range, 2 to 4 years), and mean IOP was 23.4±1.9 mm Hg at baseline and 18.1±3.1 mm Hg at the last recorded visit (still without rescue). 

Seven patients remained untreated for at least 3 years (range, 3.1 to 4.0 years). For those patients, the mean IOP was 22.8±1.5 mmHg at baseline and 18.0±4.1 mm Hg at the last recorded visit (still without rescue).

Disclosure: Some study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors’ disclosures. 

Reference

Medeiros F, Nagar S, Bejanian M, Robinson MR, Wirta DL. Extended duration of IOP lowering with bimatoprost implant in a phase 3 open-label extension study. Paper presented at: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2021 annual meeting; May 1-7; Virtual. Abstract 3538912