Bimatoprost: a member of a new class of agents, the prostamides, for glaucoma management.

Bimatoprost, a synthetic analogue of endogenous prostamides, is in development as a topical ocular hypotensive agent for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Prostamides are a newly discovered class of compounds that have been shown to have potent ocular hypotensive activity in the laboratory. Bimatoprost mimics the endogenous prostamides by lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). Bimatoprost provides outstanding control of IOP throughout the day, and a high percentage of patients receiving bimatoprost achieve the low target pressures important for clinical success. In controlled clinical trials, bimatoprost 0.03% given once daily has displayed efficacy superior to timolol 0.5% given twice daily, the current standard for therapy. Analysis of pooled six month data from two large Phase III trials demonstrated that mean IOP was consistently 2 - 3 mmHg lower with bimatoprost q.d. than with timolol b.i.d. Bimatoprost 0.03% q.d. has also been shown to provide significantly better diurnal IOP control than latanoprost 0.005% q.d., probably the most efficacious topical medication currently available. Patients receiving bimatoprost q.d. were more likely than timolol or latanoprost patients to achieve low target pressures. In all clinical evaluations, bimatoprost q.d. has been demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated. Bimatoprost will likely be available for clinical use in 2001 and it has great potential to be superior to all other medications in IOP-lowering efficacy. It is anticipated that bimatoprost will have an important role in therapy for glaucoma and ocular hypertension.