The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Combigan by Allergan Inc.(NYSE:AGN) for the treatment of glaucoma. It is a prescription eye drop that reduces elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) using an alpha adrenergic receptor agonist with a beta adrenergic inhibitor.
"COMBIGAN(TM) ophthalmic solution is a medication that provides well documented safety and efficacy for patients with inadequately controlled IOP," said Scott Whitcup, M.D., Allergan's Executive Vice President, Research and Development. "The development of COMBIGAN(TM), which has included five key clinical studies, underscores Allergan's commitment to provide new treatment options for patients with glaucoma."
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that are characterized by damage to the optic nerve and is a leading cause of preventable eyesight loss. It is estimated that 65 million people suffer from glaucoma worldwide. When the fluid that is produced by the eye, aqueous humor, drains too rapidly, or not rapidly enough, pressure builds in the eye cause the shape to distort and can cause damage to the optic nerve. Controlling the level of IOP may slow the progression and prevent loss of vision.
[Source: Reuters and Allergen]
