Cosopt/Cosopt-S Mechanism of Action

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antiglaucoma preparations and miotics, Beta blocking agents, Timolol, combinations. ATC code: S01ED51.
Pharmacology: Cosopt-S: Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of action: Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt-S) is comprised of two components: dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate. Each of these two components decreases elevated intraocular pressure by reducing aqueous humor secretion, but does so by a different mechanism of action.
Dorzolamide hydrochloride is a potent inhibitor of human carbonic anhydrase II. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase in the ciliary processes of the eye decreases aqueous humor secretion, presumably by slowing the formation of bicarbonate ions with subsequent reduction in sodium and fluid transport. Timolol maleate is a nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent. The precise mechanism of action of timolol maleate in lowering intraocular pressure is not clearly established at this time, although a fluorescein study and tonography studies indicate that the predominant action may be related to reduced aqueous formation. However, in some studies a slight increase in outflow facility was also observed. The combined effect of these two agents results in additional intraocular pressure reduction (IOP) compared to either component administered alone.
Following topical administration, Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt-S) reduces elevated intraocular pressure, whether or not associated with glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure is a major risk factor in the pathogenesis of optic nerve damage and glaucomatous visual field loss. This medicinal product reduces intraocular pressure without the common side effects of miotics such as night blindness, accommodative spasm and pupillary constriction.
Pharmacodynamic effects: Clinical Effects: Clinical studies of up to 15 months duration were conducted to compare the IOP-lowering effect of Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation b.i.d. (dosed morning and bedtime) to individually- and concomitantly-administered 0.5% timolol and 2.0% dorzolamide in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension for whom concomitant therapy was considered appropriate in the trials. This included both untreated patients and patients inadequately controlled with timolol monotherapy. The majority of patients were treated with topical beta-blocker monotherapy prior to study enrollment. In an analysis of the combined studies, the IOP-lowering effect of Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation b.i.d. was greater than that of monotherapy with either 2% dorzolamide t.i.d. or 0.5% timolol b.i.d. The IOP-lowering effect of Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation b.i.d. was equivalent to that of concomitant therapy with dorzolamide b.i.d. and timolol b.i.d. The IOP-lowering effect of Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation b.i.d. was demonstrated when measured at various time points throughout the day and this effect was maintained during long-term administration.
In an active-treatment-controlled, parallel, double-masked study in 261 patients with elevated intraocular pressure ≥22 mmHg in one or both eyes, Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt-S) had an IOP-lowering effect equivalent to that of Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation. The safety profile of Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt-S) was similar to Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation.
Paediatric population: A 3 month controlled study, with the primary objective of documenting the safety of 2% dorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution in children under the age of 6 years has been conducted. In this study, 30 patients under 6 and greater than or equal to 2 years of age whose IOP was not adequately controlled with monotherapy by dorzolamide or timolol received Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation in an open label phase. Efficacy in those patients has not been established. In this small group of patients, twice daily administration of Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate (Cosopt) preserved formulation was generally well tolerated with 19 patients completing the treatment period and 11 patients discontinuing for surgery, a change in medication, or other reasons.
Cosopt/Cosopt-S: Pharmacokinetics: Dorzolamide Hydrochloride: Unlike oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, topical administration of dorzolamide hydrochloride allows for the active substance to exert its effects directly in the eye at substantially lower doses and therefore with less systemic exposure.
In clinical trials, this resulted in a reduction in IOP without the acid-base disturbances or alterations in electrolytes characteristic of oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
When topically applied, dorzolamide reaches the systemic circulation. To assess the potential for systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibition following topical administration, active substance and metabolite concentrations in red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma and carbonic anhydrase inhibition in RBCs were measured. Dorzolamide accumulates in RBCs during chronic dosing as a result of selective binding to CA-II while extremely low concentrations of free active substance in plasma are maintained. The parent active substance forms a single N-desethyl metabolite that inhibits CA-II less potently than the parent active substance but also inhibits a less active isoenzyme (CA-I). The metabolite also accumulates in RBCs where it binds primarily to CA-I. Dorzolamide binds moderately to plasma proteins (approximately 33%). Dorzolamide is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine; the metabolite is also excreted in urine. After dosing ends, dorzolamide washes out of RBCs nonlinearly, resulting in a rapid decline of active substance concentration initially, followed by a slower elimination phase with a half-life of about four months.
When dorzolamide was given orally to simulate the maximum systemic exposure after long term topical ocular administration, steady state was reached within 13 weeks. At steady state, there was virtually no free active substance or metabolite in plasma; CA inhibition in RBCs was less than that anticipated to be necessary for a pharmacological effect on renal function or respiration. Similar pharmacokinetic results were observed after chronic, topical administration of dorzolamide hydrochloride. However, some elderly patients with renal impairment (estimated CrCl 30-60 mL/min) had higher metabolite concentrations in RBCs, but no meaningful differences in carbonic anhydrase inhibition and no clinically significant systemic side effects were directly attributable to this finding.
Timolol Maleate: In a study of plasma active substance concentration in six subjects, the systemic exposure to timolol was determined following twice daily topical administration of timolol maleate ophthalmic solution 0.5%. The mean peak plasma concentration following morning dosing was 0.46 ng/mL and following afternoon dosing was 0.35 ng/mL.