Travoprost punctum plug promising for glaucoma

Bedford, MA-Ocular Therapeutix Inc. has announced initial results of a feasibility study of a sustained-release travoprost-loaded punctum plug (OPX-TP1) for the treatment of glaucoma.

The travoprost punctum plug was evaluated for the reduction of elevated IOP in subjects with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension over a 30-day period. Twenty-six eyes were treated in 17 patients at the Singapore National Eye Center and the National University Hospital in Singapore. At day 3 post-insertion, mean IOP decreased by 5.5 mm Hg from baseline, and at day 30 post-insertion, mean IOP was 6.5 mm Hg below baseline.

Sustained-delivery punctum plugs may help to circumvent issues of patient non-compliance by eliminating the need for daily dosing of topical agents.

“This product has the ability to change [universally] the way we treat glaucoma,” said Shamira Perera, MD, principal investigator at the Singapore National Eye Center. “Sustained-release therapy could be advantageous to elderly patients who have difficulty administering drops, could help alleviate issues of non-compliance, and may be beneficial to anyone . . . with glaucoma who would prefer a life without the inconvenience of taking drops every day.”

Amar Sawhney, president and chief executive officer of Ocular Therapeutix, said phase II trials that will examine travoprost plugs for 60-day therapy (OTX-TP2) will be conducted later this year.

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