WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Combigan eye drops (brimonidine tartrate/timolol maleate ophthalmic solution) to treat elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with glaucoma or high blood pressure of the eye, maker Allergan Inc. said Wednesday.
The drug combines two medications -- Alphagan, approved to treat glaucoma, and timolol, approved to treat high blood pressure. The new drug will be available in the fourth quarter of 2007, a company statement said.
IOP is a primary risk factor for glaucoma -- a disease affecting the optic nerve, and a leading cause of preventable blindness. More than 3 million Americans are thought to have glaucoma, although only about half know that they have it, Allergan said.
People with a history of bronchial asthma or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shouldn't take Combigan, the company said.
More information
The Glaucoma Research Foundation has more about the disease.
-- Scott Roberts
Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.