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

Posology

Recommended dosage in adults (including older people)

The recommended dose is one drop of GANFORT single-dose in the affected eye(s) once daily, administered either in the morning or in the evening. It should be administered at the same time each day.

Existing literature data for GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) suggest that evening dosing may be more effective in IOP lowering than morning dosing. However, consideration should be given to the likelihood of compliance when considering either morning or evening dosing (see section 5.1).

The single-dose container is for single use only; one container is sufficient to treat both eyes. Any unused solution should be discarded immediately after use. If one dose is missed, treatment should continue with the next dose as planned. The dose should not exceed one drop in the affected eye(s) daily.

Renal and hepatic impairment

GANFORT single-dose has not been studied in patients with hepatic or renal impairment. Therefore caution should be used in treating such patients.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of GANFORT single-dose in children aged less than 18 years has not been established. No data are available.

Method of administration

If more than one topical ophthalmic medicinal product is to be used, each one should be instilled at least 5 minutes apart.

When using nasolacrimal occlusion or closing the eyelids for 2 minutes, the systemic absorption is reduced. This may result in a decrease in systemic side effects and an increase in local activity.

▪ Hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

▪ Reactive airway disease including bronchial asthma or a history of bronchial asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

▪ Sinus bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, sino-atrial block, second or third degree atrioventricular block, not controlled with pace-maker. Overt cardiac failure, cardiogenic shock.

Like other topically applied ophthalmic medicinal products, the active substances (timolol/ bimatoprost) in GANFORT single-dose may be absorbed systemically. No enhancement of the systemic absorption of the individual active substances has been observed with GANFORT (multi-dose formulation). Due to the beta-adrenergic component, timolol, the same types of cardiovascular, pulmonary and other adverse reactions (ADRs) as seen with systemic beta-blockers may occur. Incidence of systemic ADRs after topical ophthalmic administration is lower than for systemic administration. To reduce the systemic absorption, see section 4.2.

Cardiac disorders

Patients with cardiovascular diseases (e.g. coronary heart disease, Prinzmetal's angina and cardiac failure) and receiving hypotension therapy with beta-blockers should be critically assessed and therapy with other active substances should be considered. Patients with cardiovascular diseases should be watched for signs of deterioration of these diseases and of adverse reactions.

Due to the negative effect on conduction time, beta-blockers should only be given with caution to patients with first degree heart block.

Vascular disorders

Patients with severe peripheral circulatory disturbance/disorders (i.e. severe forms of Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's syndrome) should be treated with caution.

Respiratory disorders:

Respiratory reactions, including death due to bronchospasm in patients with asthma, have been reported following administration of some ophthalmic beta-blockers.

GANFORT single-dose should be used with caution in patients with mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk.

Endocrine disorders:

Beta-adrenergic blocking medicinal products should be administered with caution in patients subject to spontaneous hypoglycaemia or in patients with labile diabetes as beta-blockers may mask the signs and symptoms of acute hypoglycemia.

Beta-blockers may also mask the signs of hyperthyroidism.

Corneal diseases

Ophthalmic beta-blockers may induce dryness of eyes. Patients with corneal diseases should be treated with caution.

Other beta-blocking agents

The effect on intra-ocular pressure or the known effects of systemic beta-blockade may be potentiated when timolol is given to patients already receiving a systemic beta-blocking agent. The response of these patients should be closely observed. The use of two topical beta-adrenergic blocking agents is not recommended (see section 4.5).

Anaphylactic reactions

While taking beta-blockers, patients with a history of atopy or a history of severe anaphylactic reaction to a variety of allergens may be more reactive to repeated challenge with such allergens and unresponsive to the usual dose of adrenaline used to treat anaphylactic reactions.

Choroidal detachment

Choroidal detachment has been reported with administration of aqueous suppressant therapy (e.g. timolol, acetazolamide) after filtration procedures.

Surgical anaesthesia

Beta-blocking ophthalmological preparations may block systemic beta-agonist effects e.g. of adrenaline. The anaesthesiologist should be informed when the patient is receiving timolol.

Hepatic

In patients with a history of mild liver disease or abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or bilirubin at baseline, bimatoprost eye drops had no adverse reactions on liver function over 24 months. There are no known adverse reactions of ocular timolol on liver function.

Ocular

Before treatment is initiated, patients should be informed of the possibility of eyelash growth, and periorbital skin hyperpigmentation since these have been observed during treatment with GANFORT single-dose. Increased brown iris pigmentation has also been observed during treatment with GANFORT (multi-dose formulation). Increased iris pigmentation is likely to be permanent, and may lead to differences in appearance between the eyes if only one eye is treated. After discontinuation of GANFORT, pigmentation of iris may be permanent. After 12 months of treatment with GANFORT (multi-dose formulation), the incidence of iris pigmentation was 0.2%. After 12 months of treatment with bimatoprost eye drops alone, the incidence was 1.5% and did not increase following 3 years of treatment. The pigmentation change is due to increased melanin content in the melanocytes rather than to an increase in the number of melanocytes. The long term effects of increased iridial pigmentation are not known. Iris colour changes seen with ophthalmic administration of bimatoprost may not be noticeable for several months to years. Neither nevi nor freckles of the iris appear to be affected by treatment. Periorbital tissue pigmentation has been reported to be reversible in some patients.

Macular oedema, including cystoid macular oedema has been reported with GANFORT (multi-dose formulation). Therefore, GANFORT single-dose should be used with caution in aphakic patients, in pseudophakic patients with a torn posterior lens capsule, or in patients with known risk factors for macular oedema (e.g. intraocular surgery, retinal vein occlusions, ocular inflammatory disease and diabetic retinopathy).

GANFORT should be used with caution in patients with active intraocular inflammation (e.g. uveitis) because the inflammation may be exacerbated.

Skin

There is a potential for hair growth to occur in areas where GANFORT solution comes repeatedly in contact with the skin surface. Thus, it is important to apply GANFORT as instructed and avoid it running onto the cheek or other skin areas.

Other conditions

GANFORT single-dose has not been studied in patients with inflammatory ocular conditions, neovascular, inflammatory, angle-closure, congenital or narrow-angle glaucoma.

In studies of bimatoprost 0.3 mg/ml in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, it has been shown that more frequent exposure of the eye to more than 1 dose of bimatoprost daily may decrease the IOP-lowering effect. Patients using GANFORT with other prostaglandin analogues should be monitored for changes to their intraocular pressure.

No specific interaction studies have been performed with the bimatoprost / timolol fixed combination.

There is a potential for additive effects resulting in hypotension, and/or marked bradycardia when ophthalmic beta-blocker solution is administered concomitantly with oral calcium channel blockers, guanethidine, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, parasympathomimetics, anti-arrhythmics (including amiodarone) and digitalis glycosides.

Potentiated systemic beta-blockade (e.g. decreased heart rate, depression) has been reported during combined treatment with CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g. quinidine, fluoxetine, paroxetine) and timolol.

Mydriasis resulting from concomitant use of ophthalmic beta-blockers and adrenaline (epinephrine) has been reported occasionally.

Pregnancy

There are no adequate data from the use of the bimatoprost / timolol fixed combination in pregnant women. GANFORT single-dose should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. To reduce the systemic absorption, see section 4.2.

Bimatoprost

No adequate clinical data in exposed pregnancies are available. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity at high maternotoxic doses (see section 5.3).

Timolol

Epidemiological studies have not revealed malformative effects but have shown a risk for intra uterine growth retardation when beta-blockers are administered by the oral route. In addition, signs and symptoms of beta-blockade (e.g. bradycardia, hypotension, respiratory distress and hypoglycaemia) have been observed in the neonate when beta-blockers have been administered until delivery. If GANFORT single-dose is administered until delivery, the neonate should be carefully monitored during the first days of life. Animal studies with timolol have shown reproductive toxicity at doses significantly higher than would be used in clinical practice (see section 5.3).

Breast-feeding

Timolol

Beta-blockers are excreted in breast milk. However, at therapeutic doses of timolol in eye drops it is not likely that sufficient amounts would be present in breast milk to produce clinical symptoms of beta-blockade in the infant. To reduce the systemic absorption, see section 4.2.

Bimatoprost

It is not known if bimatoprost is excreted in human breast milk but it is excreted in the milk of the lactating rat. GANFORT single-dose should not be used by breast-feeding women.

Fertility

There are no data on the effects of GANFORT single-dose on human fertility.

GANFORT single-dose has negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. As with any topical ocular treatment, if transient blurred vision occurs at instillation, the patient should wait until the vision clears before driving or using machines.

GANFORT single-dose

Summary of the safety profile

The adverse reactions reported in the clinical study using GANFORT single-dose were limited to those earlier reported for either GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) or for the single active substances bimatoprost or timolol. No new adverse reactions specific for GANFORT single-dose have been observed in clinical studies.

The majority of adverse reactions reported with GANFORT single-dose were ocular, mild in severity and none were serious. Based on a 12-week study of GANFORT single-dose administered once daily, the most commonly reported adverse reaction with GANFORT single-dose was conjunctival hyperaemia (mostly trace to mild and thought to be of a non-inflammatory nature) in approximately 21% of patients and led to discontinuation in 1.4% of patients.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Table 1 presents the adverse reactions that were reported during clinical studies of both GANFORT single-dose and Ganfort multi-dose formulations (within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness) or in the post-marketing period.

The frequency of possible adverse reactions listed below is defined using the following convention:

Table 1

¹adverse reactions only observed with Ganfort single-dose formulation

²adverse reactions only observed with Ganfort multi-dose formulation

Like other topically applied ophthalmic drugs, GANFORT (bimatoprost/timolol) is absorbed into the systemic circulation. Absorption of timolol may cause similar undesirable effects as seen with systemic beta-blocking agents. The incidence of systemic ADRs after topical ophthalmic administration is lower than for systemic administration. To reduce the systemic absorption, see section 4.2.

Additional adverse reactions that have been seen with either of the active substances (bimatoprost or timolol), and may potentially occur also with GANFORT are listed below in Table 2:

Table 2

¹ adverse reactions observed with Timolol

² adverse reactions observed with Bimatoprost

Adverse reactions reported in phosphate containing eye drops

Cases of corneal calcification have been reported very rarely in association with the use of phosphate containing eye drops in some patients with significantly damaged corneas.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

A topical overdose with GANFORT single-dose is not likely to occur or to be associated with toxicity.

Bimatoprost

If GANFORT single-dose is accidentally ingested, the following information may be useful: in 2-week oral mice and rats studies, doses of bimatoprost up to 100 mg/kg/day did not produce any toxicity; this corresponds to a human equivalent dose of 8.1 and 16.2 mg/kg, respectively. These doses are at least 7.5 times higher than the amount of bimatoprost in an accidental dose of the entire contents of a carton of GANFORT single-dose (90 single-dose containers x 0.4 mL; 36 mL) in a 10 kg child [(36 mL*0.3 mg/mL bimatoprost)/10 kg; 1.08 mg/kg].

Timolol

Symptoms of systemic timolol overdose include: bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and cardiac arrest. A study of patients with renal failure showed that timolol did not dialyse readily.

If overdose occurs treatment should be symptomatic and supportive.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Ophthalmological, beta-blocking agents – ATC code: S01ED51.

Mechanism of action

GANFORT single-dose consists of two active substances: bimatoprost and timolol. These two components decrease elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) by complementary mechanisms of action and the combined effect results in additional IOP reduction compared to either compound administered alone. GANFORT single-dose has a rapid onset of action.

Bimatoprost is a potent ocular hypotensive active substance. It is a synthetic prostamide, structurally related to prostaglandin F_2a (PGF_2a) that does not act through any known prostaglandin receptors. Bimatoprost selectively mimics the effects of newly discovered biosynthesised substances called prostamides. The prostamide receptor, however, has not yet been structurally identified. The mechanism of action by which bimatoprost reduces intraocular pressure in man is by increasing aqueous humour outflow through the trabecular meshwork and enhancing uveoscleral outflow.

Timolol is a beta₁ and beta₂ non-selective adrenergic receptor blocking agent that does not have significant intrinsic sympathomimetic, direct myocardial depressant, or local anaesthetic (membrane-stabilising) activity. Timolol lowers IOP by reducing aqueous humour formation. The precise mechanism of action is not clearly established, but inhibition of the increased cyclic AMP synthesis caused by endogenous beta-adrenergic stimulation is probable.

Clinical effects

A 12-week (double-masked, randomized, parallel group) clinical study compared the efficacy and safety of GANFORT single-dose with GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. GANFORT single-dose achieved noninferior IOP-lowering efficacy to GANFORT (multi-dose formulation): the upper limit of the 95% CI of the between-treatment difference was within the pre-defined 1.5 mm Hg margin at each timepoint evaluated (hours 0, 2, and 8) at week 12 (for the primary analysis), and also at weeks 2 and 6, for mean worse eye IOP change from baseline (worse eye IOP refers to the eye with the higher mean diurnal IOP at baseline). In fact, the upper limit of the 95% CI did not exceed 0.14 mm Hg at week 12.

Both treatment groups showed statistically and clinically significant mean decreases from baseline in worse eye IOP at all follow up timepoints throughout the study (p < 0.001). Mean changes from baseline worse eye IOP ranged from -9.16 to -7.98 mm Hg for GANFORT (single-dose) group, and from -9.03 to -7.72 mm Hg for the GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) group across the 12-week study.

GANFORT single-dose also achieved equivalent IOP-lowering efficacy to GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) in average eye and worse eye IOP at each follow-up timepoint at weeks 2, 6 and 12.

Based on studies of GANFORT (multi-dose formulation), the IOP-lowering effect of GANFORT is non-inferior to that achieved by adjunctive therapy of bimatoprost (once daily) and timolol (twice daily).

Existing literature data for GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) suggest that evening dosing may be more effective in IOP lowering than morning dosing. However, consideration should be given to the likelihood of compliance when considering either morning or evening dosing.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of GANFORT single-dose in children aged less than 18 years has not been established.

GANFORT medicinal product

Plasma bimatoprost and timolol concentrations were determined in a crossover study comparing the monotherapy treatments to GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) treatment in healthy subjects. Systemic absorption of the individual components was minimal and not affected by co-administration in a single formulation.

In two 12-month studies of GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) in which systemic absorption was measured, no accumulation was observed of either of the individual components.

Bimatoprost

Bimatoprost penetrates the human cornea and sclera well in vitro. After ocular administration, the systemic exposure of bimatoprost is very low with no accumulation over time. After once daily ocular administration of one drop of 0.03% bimatoprost to both eyes for two weeks, blood concentrations peaked within 10 minutes after dosing and declined to below the lower limit of detection (0.025 ng/ml) within 1.5 hours after dosing. Mean C_max and AUC _0-24hrs values were similar on days 7 and 14 at approximately 0.08 ng/ml and 0.09 ng· hr/ml respectively, indicating that a steady drug concentration was reached during the first week of ocular dosing.

Bimatoprost is moderately distributed into body tissues and the systemic volume of distribution in humans at steady-state was 0.67 1/kg. In human blood, bimatoprost resides mainly in the plasma. The plasma protein binding of bimatoprost is approximately 88%.

Bimatoprost is the major circulating species in the blood once it reaches the systemic circulation following ocular dosing. Bimatoprost then undergoes oxidation, N-deethylation and glucuronidation to form a diverse variety of metabolites.

Bimatoprost is eliminated primarily by renal excretion, up to 67% of an intravenous dose administered to healthy volunteers was excreted in the urine, 25% of the dose was excreted via the faeces. The elimination half-life, determined after intravenous administration, was approximately 45 minutes; the total blood clearance was 1.5 1/hr/kg.

Characteristics in older people

After twice daily dosing of bimatoprost 0.3 mg/ml, the mean AUC _0-24hrs value of 0.0634 ng· hr/ml bimatoprost in the elderly (subjects 65 years or older) were significantly higher than 0.0218 ng· hr/ml in young healthy adults. However, this finding is not clinically relevant as systemic exposure for both elderly and young subjects remained very low from ocular dosing. There was no accumulation of bimatoprost in the blood over time and the safety profile was similar in elderly and young patients.

Timolol

After ocular administration of a 0.5% eye drops solution in humans undergoing cataract surgery, peak timolol concentration was 898 ng/ml in the aqueous humour at one hour post-dose. Part of the dose is absorbed systemically where it is extensively metabolised in the liver. The half-life of timolol in plasma is about 4 to 6 hours. Timolol is partially metabolised by the liver with timolol and its metabolites excreted by the kidney. Timolol is not extensively bound to plasma.

GANFORT medicinal product

Repeated dose ocular toxicity studies of GANFORT (multi-dose formulation) showed no special hazard for humans. The ocular and systemic safety profile of the individual components is well established.

Bimatoprost

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential. Studies in rodents produced species-specific abortion at systemic exposure levels 33- to 97-times that achieved in humans after ocular administration.

Monkeys administered ocular bimatoprost concentrations of ≥ 0.03% daily for 1 year had an increase in iris pigmentation and reversible dose-related periocular effects characterised by a prominent upper and/or lower sulcus and widening of the palpebral fissure. The increased iris pigmentation appears to be caused by increased stimulation of melanin production in melanocytes and not by an increase in melanocyte number. No functional or microscopic changes related to the periocular effects have been observed, and the mechanism of action for the periocular changes is unknown.

Timolol

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity to reproduction.

Sodium chloride

Sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate

Citric acid monohydrate

Hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH)

Purified water

Not applicable.

2 years.

Once the single-dose container is removed from the pouch use within 7 days. All single-dose containers should be kept in the pouch and discarded after 10 days from the first opening of the pouch.

This medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage conditions. Keep the single-dose containers in the pouch and place the pouch back in carton in order to protect against light and moisture.

Clear, single-dose low density polyethylene (LDPE) containers with a twist-off tab.

Each single-dose container contains 0.4 ml solution.

The following pack sizes are available:

Carton containing 5 single-dose containers in an aluminium foil pouch.

Carton containing 30 or 90 single-dose containers in three or nine aluminium foil pouches respectively. Each pouch contains 10 single-dose containers.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

No special requirements.