title: Efficacy and safety levels of preserved and preservative-free tafluprost are equivalent in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension: results from a pharmacodynamics analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tafluprost is a new prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) derivative in development for the treatment of glaucoma. Tafluprost is the first PGF(2alpha) analogue with a preservative-free formulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized, investigator-masked, multicentre, crossover phase III study evaluated the pharmacodynamics and safety of preserved and preservative-free tafluprost 0.0015% eyedrops administered for 4 weeks in 43 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The primary variable was change from baseline in overall diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) at 4 weeks. Adverse events and other safety parameters were also analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased IOP was clearly observed with both formulations at week 1 and was sustained until week 4. The overall treatment difference (preservative-free versus preserved formulations) at week 4 was 0.01 mmHg (95% confidence interval - 0.46 to 0.49; p = 0.96). There were no unexpected safety-related findings. Both formulations were well tolerated and most adverse events were ocular and mild in severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  THE reduction in IOP achieved by preservative-free tafluprost is equivalent to that obtained with the preserved formulation. The preservative-free formulation was generally well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Augenzentrum Dr. Hamacher Praxis, Maximilianstrasse 2B, Starnberg, Germany. praxis@augenzentrum-dr-hamacher.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamacher
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Airaksinen
authors.forename: Ville
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saarela
authors.forename: M Johanna
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Liinamaa
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Auli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ropo