Skip to main content
Log in

Tafluprost/Timolol: A Review in Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

  • Adis Drug Evaluation
  • Published:
Drugs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A once-daily preservative-free fixed combination ophthalmic solution containing tafluprost 0.0015 % and timolol 0.5 % (hereafter referred to as tafluprost/timolol) [Taptiqom®] has been developed to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) whilst avoiding damage to the ocular surface associated with preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride. Tafluprost/timolol is available in various EU countries for the reduction of IOP in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who are insufficiently responsive to topical monotherapy with β-adrenergic receptor antagonists or prostaglandin analogues and require a combination therapy, and who would benefit from preservative-free eye drops. In two multinational, phase III studies, tafluprost/timolol was superior to monotherapy with either preservative-free tafluprost 0.0015 % once daily or preservative-free timolol 0.5 % twice daily, and noninferior to concomitant therapy with preservative-free tafluprost 0.0015 % once daily plus preservative-free timolol 0.5 % twice daily in lowering IOP in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Tafluprost/timolol was well tolerated in these studies, with a tolerability profile consistent with that of its individual components and with no new adverse reactions observed. Thus, preservative-free fixed combination tafluprost/timolol is an effective treatment option for the reduction of IOP in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, providing a useful alternative for those patients who would benefit from preservative-free eye drops.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. European Glaucoma Society. Terminology and guidelines for glaucoma. 4th ed. 2014. http://www.eugs.org/. Accessed 22 Sep 2015.

  2. Aptel F, Chiquet C, Romanet J-P. Intraocular pressure-lowering combination therapies with prostaglandin analogues. Drugs. 2012;72(10):1355–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Irkec M, Bozkurt B, Mocan MC. Are preservatives necessary to improve efficacy of some glaucoma drops? Br J Ophthalmol. 2013;97(12):1493–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Higginbotham EJ. Considerations in glaucoma therapy: fixed combinations versus their component medications. Clin Ophthalmol. 2010;4:1–9.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Baudouin C, Labbé A, Liang H, et al. Preservatives in eyedrops: the good, the bad and the ugly. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2010;29(4):312–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Santen Oy. Taptiqom 15 micrograms/ml + 5 mg/ml eye drops, solution in single-dose container: UK summary of product characteristics. 2014. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/spc-pil/. Accessed 22 Sep 2015.

  7. Kaarniranta K, Ikäheimo K, Mannermaa E, et al. Pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of the preservative-free fixed combination of tafluprost 0.0015 % and timolol 0.5 % in healthy volunteers: a phase I comparison versus the corresponding preservative-free monotherapies. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2015. doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0331-x.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Merck Sharpe & Dohme Ltd. SAFLUTAN® 15 micrograms/ml eye drops, solution, in single-dose container: UK summary of product characteristics. 2014. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/spc-pil/. Accessed 22 Sep 2015.

  9. Takagi Y, Nakajima T, Shimazaki A, et al. Pharmacological characteristics of AFP-168 (tafluprost), a new prostanoid FP receptor agonist, as an ocular hypotensive drug. Exp Eye Res. 2004;78(4):767–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Traverso CE, Ropo A, Papadia M, et al. A phase II study on the duration and stability of the intraocular pressure-lowering effect and tolerability of tafluprost compared with latanoprost. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2010;26(1):97–104.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hamacher T, Airaksinen J, Saarela V, et al. Efficacy and safety levels of preserved and preservative-free tafluprost are equivalent in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension: results from a pharmacodynamics analysis. Acta Ophthalmol Suppl (Oxf). 2008;242:14–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Akaishi T, Kurashima H, Odani-kawabata N, et al. Effects of repeated administrations of tafluprost, latanoprost, and travoprost on optic nerve head blood flow in conscious normal rabbits. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2010;26(2):181–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Merck Sharpe & Dohme Ltd. Timoptol® unit dose 0.5 % w/v eye drops solution: UK summary of product characteristics. 2014. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/spc-pil/. Accessed 22 Sep 2015.

  14. Amyot M, Blondeau P. Timolol maleate. Pharmacology and review of the literature. Can J Ophthalmol. 1979;14(3):208–14.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pellinen P, Lokkila J. Corneal penetration into rabbit aqueous humor is comparable between preserved and preservative-free tafluprost. Ophthalmic Res. 2009;41(2):118–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Pfeiffer N, Traverso CE, Lorenz K, et al. A 6-month study comparing efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the preservative-free fixed combination of tafluprost 0.0015 % and timolol 0.5 % versus each of its individual preservative-free components. Adv Ther. 2014;31(12):1228–46.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Holló G, Hommer A, Antón López A, et al. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of preservative-free fixed combination of tafluprost 0.0015 %/timolol 0.5 % versus concomitant use of the ingredients. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2014;30(6):468–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Holló G, Ropo A. Intraocular pressure decrease with preservative-free fixed and unfixed combination of tafluprost and timolol in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. Curr Med Res Opin. 2015;31(1):13–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Holló G, Katsanos A. Safety and tolerability of the tafluprost/timolol fixed combination for the treatment of glaucoma. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2015;14(4):609–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Santen Oy. Santen announces positive outcome of the European decentralized procedure for approval of TAPTIQOM®. 2014. http://www.santen.eu/. Accessed 22 Sep 2015.

  21. Konstas AG, Nakos E, Tersis I, et al. A comparison of once-daily morning vs evening dosing of concomitant latanoprost/timolol. Am J Ophthalmol. 2002;133(6):753–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Konstas AG, Tsironi S, Vakalis AN, et al. Intraocular pressure control over 24 hours using travoprost and timolol fixed combination administered in the morning or evening in primary open-angle and exfoliative glaucoma. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh). 2009;87(1):71–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Holló G, Vuorinen J, Tuominen J, et al. Fixed-dose combination of tafluprost and timolol in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension: comparison with other fixed-combination products. Adv Ther. 2014;31(9):932–44.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

During the peer review process, the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made by the author on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sheridan M. Hoy.

Ethics declarations

Funding

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflicts of interest

Sheridan Hoy is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer, is responsible for the article content and declares no relevant conflicts of interest.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: D. C. Broadway, Department of Ophthalmology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk, UK; G. Holló, Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; A. Katsanos, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hoy, S.M. Tafluprost/Timolol: A Review in Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension. Drugs 75, 1807–1813 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0476-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0476-9

Keywords

Navigation