DE-117, a new glaucoma therapy being developed by Santen Pharmaceutical_산텐제약, recently won the approval of its Phase 3 clinical trial plan. DE-117 is drawing attention whether it can replace Xalatan (compound Latanoprost), the most frequently used treatment so far.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)_{식품의약품안전처} has approved Phase 3 clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of DE- 117 eye drop 0.002% compared with Latanoprost eye drop 0.005% for people with open-angle glaucoma or high intraocular pressure. The multinational and multi-organizational clinical trials, called the PEONY research, have started in Asian countries since December.

DE-117 reportedly works for the non-prostaglandin selective EP2 receptor, relaxing the ciliary muscle and reducing intraocular pressure through uveal hardening lines.g

The Phase 2 clinical trials confirmed safety, efficacy, and dosage by comparing Latanoprost (0.005%) with four different dosages of DE-117 (0.0003%, 0.001%, 0.002%, 0.003%) for 91 open-angle glaucoma patients. According to the research, patients who took DE-117 0.002% showed the higher reduction of intraocular pressure in the first week than those who took Latanoprost and similar decrease with Latanoprost until the fourth week.

The Phase 3 trials will compare DE-117 0.002%, which has shown effects on reducing intraocular pressure, with Latanoprost.

The most widely used glaucoma treatment now is Xalatan made by Pfizer_{화이자제약}. Since winning the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996, it has been the best-selling glaucoma therapy in the world.

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