Mohammed ElMallah, MD, of Ocala Eye, spoke with Ophthalmology 360 at the 2024 AAO Annual Meeting about a study presented titled, “Travoprost Intracameral Implant (iDose TR) Delivers Therapeutic Aqueous Humor Drug Levels and Lowers IOP Over 24 Months.”
Dr. ElMallah:
It’s a really interesting study looking at the pharmacokinetics of the iDose device. The study enrolled 210 patients. There were 7 cohorts in the study. Each cohort was 30 patients, so patients were screened for inclusion into the study. If they met criteria, then they had the iDose device placed.
At 3 months after implantation, 30 patients had the iDose device removed and replaced with a new iDose travoprost implant. During those surgeries, during those procedures, the level of travoprost-free acid was measured. The concentration in the anterior chamber was measured as well as looking at the amount of drugs still present in the device, as well as looking at intraocular pressure prior to explantation. This was done at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and then every 3 months for a total of 24 months, so 2 years total.
The findings of the study were that even at 2 years out, there was drugs still present in the device, as well as therapeutic levels of travoprost-free acids still in the anterior chamber. That was really the main finding of the study. Two years, we can be confident that there is still therapeutic concentrations of travoprost in the anterior chamber and 2 years after implantation that there is still drug remaining in the devices.
Really the main takeaway point is whenever you implant an iDose device that you can be confident that 2 years out that there’s still therapeutic levels of travoprost in the anterior chamber, higher than the levels that have been reported with topical travoprost drops even 2 years out, and that there is still drug being eluded from the device at 2 years after implantation.
The findings can impact the field in that we have an effective option to get patients less dependent on using topical drops that we put the control of glaucoma and management more in the caregivers’ hands, in that you have an option for patients to decrease dependence on drops, decrease IOP variability, give them an effective solution in terms of lowering intraocular pressure and avoid all the issues in terms of ocular surface issues, dry eye, redness, [and] irritation that you get from a topical drop.
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