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Combination anti-inflammatory/antibiotic launched in United States
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Bausch & Lomb recently began distributing Zylet, an ophthalmic suspension indicated for steroid-responsive inflammatory ocular conditions in which risk of bacterial or superficial ocular infection exists. The drug was approved for marketing in the United States late last year.
The company announced at a press conference held during Hawaii 2005, The Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting, that the product would be available in the U.S. market by late January.
According to B&L officials, this is the first time in more than 15 years a corticosteroid/antibiotic combination therapy has been introduced to the market.
The B&L officials said Zylet is similar to Alcon’s combination treatment, TobraDex (tobramycin, dexamethasone), in that it contains 0.3% tobramycin. But it is different in that 0.5% loteprednol etabonate is used instead of dexamethasone as the anti-inflammatory component.
“Zylet really was designed with this corticosteroid component, which actually minimizes the potential for unwanted side effects, specifically intraocular pressure,” said Rob Meyering, vice president of marketing for B&L’s pharmaceuticals division.
Studies show that steroid responders treated with dexamethasone had a significant rise in IOP, compared with patients treated with loteprednol, Mr. Meyering said.
“When you look at the availability of drugs and their efficacy, the tobramycin becomes a wash, and now we’re talking about which of the safer combinations can be used,” said Charles Slonim, MD, who spoke at the press conference. “Based on these types of studies, Zylet with loteprednol etabonate is probably the safest one to use.”