Study: At 1 year no rescue treatment needed in majority of bimatoprost implant patients

More than 80% of patients did not require additional treatment for 1 year after receiving the last of 3 administrations of bimatoprost 10-µg implant (Durysta, Allergan), according to results from several phase 3 studies reported during the ASCRS 2021 Annual Meeting. For those patients who required additional treatment, the return to baseline IOP after the 3rd treatment was not abrupt. Mean IOP 4 weeks before rescue was 20.6 mm Hg. Implant-treated patients with IOP ≥20 mm Hg may benefit from closer follow-up to determine the need for additional treatment, researchers reported.

The 2 identical, masked, 20-month, phase 3 studies (n = 594; n = 528) included patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OH) who were randomized to study eye treatment with topical timolol 0.5% BID or 10-µg or 15-µg bimatoprost implant administered intracamerally on Day 1 and Weeks 16 and 32. Rescue topical IOP-lowering medication was used by investigator if needed.

The probability of no rescue for 360 days after the 3rd administration was 80.6% in the 10-µg implant group. For the patients in the 10-µg implant group who were not rescued after the 3rd administration and completed the study (n = 246), mean IOP was 24.1 mm Hg at baseline and 18.6 mm Hg at Month 20/exit. For the patients in the 10-µg implant group requiring rescue after the 3rd admin (n=71), mean IOP was 25.6 mm Hg at baseline and 24.5 mmHg at rescue. Mean IOP in the 10-µg implant-treated patients who were rescued after the 3rd administration was 21 mm Hg at 4 weeks before rescue, 20 mm Hg at 8 to12 weeks before rescue, 18 mm Hg or 19 mm Hg at 16 to 36 weeks before rescue, and ≤17.3 mm Hg at 40 to 52 weeks before rescue.

Reference
Myers JS. Duration of IOP lowering with bimatoprost implant and profile of the IOP-lowering response before rescue in the phase 3 Artemis studies. Presented at: ASCRS 2021 Annual Meeting.