Dive Brief:
- Novartis' Simbrinza (brinzolamide/brimonidine) is the only fixed-dose combination therapy for glaucoma that does not involve a beta-blocker.
- The EU Commission approved Simbrinza eye drops for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in adults with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
- Beta-blockers are not intended for use in patients with certain respiratory or cardiac conditions, so Simbrinza represents an important treatment option for these individuals.
Dive Insight:
Simbrinza was approved by the FDA in 2013. There continues to be a need for effective approaches to the management of open-angle glaucoma, which represents 74% of all cases of glaucoma worldwide. Not only does Simbrinza offer the advantage of not having a beta-blocker -- it offers a simplified dosing regimen compared with brinzolamide alone.
This is important given that adhering to a treatment schedule is a challenge for this population. In fact, 80% of patients with glaucoma deviate from their drug regimen. Novartis hopes to improve treatment rates in this population of patients, while helping patients retain their vision.