Imprimis compounding 2 glaucoma drugs in short supply

Imprimis Pharmaceuticals announced that it is dispensing alternatives to glaucoma treatments recently added to FDA's Drug Shortage List. The ophthalmology-focused company has begun distributing preservative-free dorzolamide and preservative-free dorzolamide/timolol, the latter of which is a compounded version of a combination sold as Cosopt and Cosopt PF. The two medications were prescribed approximately 4 million times in 2017, according to IQVIA data. The compounded formulations Imprimis is offering are free of the preservative benzalkonium chloride (BAK) that is often found in glaucoma treatments. A 2013 Clinical Ophthalmology paper attributed negative effects to BAK, including conjunctival inflammation and fibrosis, macular edema, and anterior chamber inflammation. "These effects can lead to ocular discomfort, poor intraocular pressure control, glaucoma surgery failure, and decreased patient compliance," the paper said.