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Active Substance: bimatoprost / timolol
Common Name: bimatoprost / timolol
ATC Code: S01ED51
Marketing Authorisation Holder: Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland
Active Substance: bimatoprost / timolol
Status: Authorised
Authorisation Date: 2006-05-19
Therapeutic Area: Ocular Hypertension Glaucoma, Open-Angle
Pharmacotherapeutic Group: Ophthalmologicals

Therapeutic Indication

Reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who are insufficiently responsive to topical beta-blockers or prostaglandin analogues.

What is Ganfort?

Ganfort is an eye-drop solution that contains two active substances: bimatoprost (0.3 mg/ml) and timolol (5 mg/ml).

What is Ganfort used for?

Ganfort is used to reduce the pressure inside the eye. It is used in adults with ‘open-angle glaucoma’ or ocular hypertension who do not respond sufficiently to eye drops containing beta-blockers or prostaglandin analogues (other medicines use for these conditions).

‘Ocular hypertension’ is when the pressure in the eye is higher than normal. In open-angle glaucoma the high pressure is caused by fluid being unable to drain out of the eye.

The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

How is Ganfort used?

Ganfort is given as one drop in the affected eye(s) once a day, either in the morning or the evening. It should be given at the same time each day. If more than one type of eye drop is being used, each one should be given at least five minutes apart.

How does Ganfort work?

Raised pressure in the eye causes damage to the retina (the light sensitive membrane at the back of the eye) and to the optic nerve that sends signals from the eye to the brain. This can result in serious vision loss and even blindness. By lowering the pressure, Ganfort reduces the risk of damage.

Ganfort contains two active substances, bimatoprost and timolol, which lower the pressure in the eye in different ways. Bimatoprost is a prostaglandin analogue (a copy of the natural substance prostaglandin) that works by increasing the drainage of fluid out of the eye. Bimatoprost on its own has already been approved in the European Union under the name Lumigan. Timolol is a beta-blocker that works by reducing the production of fluid within the eye. Timolol has been commonly used to treat glaucoma since the 1970s. The combination of the two active substances has an additive effect, reducing the pressure inside the eye more than either medicine alone.

How has Ganfort been studied?

Four main studies have been performed involving 1,964 adults with ocular hypertension or glaucoma. The studies compared Ganfort with bimatoprost, timolol, or bimatoprost and timolol given at the same time after three weeks to four months of treatment. The main measures of effectiveness were the average reduction in eye pressure or the number of patients whose eye pressure fell below the target of 18 mmHg (making it within the normal range).

What benefit has Ganfort shown during the studies?

Overall, the studies showed that Ganfort is effective in lowering eye pressure. The values were lowered by about 8-10 mmHg. Ganfort was more effective than timolol on its own and was as effective as bimatoprost.

Ganfort was, however, more effective than bimatoprost in patients whose pressure was not controlled with eye drops containing prostaglandins alone. Ganfort lowered the pressure to less than 18 mmHg in 18.7% of these patients compared with 10.2% with bimatoprost only. In addition, more patients given Ganfort had a drop in pressure of more than 20% (67.9% against 48.9%).
In addition, Ganfort was shown to be as effective as bimatoprost and timolol given at the same time.

What is the risk associated with Ganfort?

The most common side effects (seen in more than 1 patient in 10) are conjunctival hyperaemia (increased blood supply to the eye, leading to redness of the eye) and growth of eyelashes. For the full list of all side effects reported with Ganfort, see the package leaflet.

Ganfort must not be used in people who are hypersensitive (allergic) to bimatoprost, timolol or any of the other ingredients. It must not be used in patients who have asthma or severe lung disease, or in patients with some heart conditions. See the package leaflet for the full list of restrictions.

Why has Ganfort been approved?

The CHMP decided that Ganfort’s benefits are greater than its risks and recommended that it be given marketing authorisation.

Other information about Ganfort

The European Commission granted a marketing authorisation valid throughout the European Union for Ganfort on 19 May 2006.

For more information about treatment with Ganfort, read the package leaflet (also part of the EPAR) or contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Source: European Medicines Agency
