Safety and efficacy of topically administered netarsudil (Rhopressa™) in normal and glaucomatous dogs with ADAMTS10-open-angle glaucoma (ADAMTS10-OAG)

Objective To evaluate safety and efficacy of topically administered 0.02% netarsudil ophthalmic solution (Rhopressa (TM); Aerie Pharmaceutical) in normal and glaucomatous dogs with ADAMTS10-open-angle glaucoma (ADAMTS10-OAG). Animals studied Five normal and 5 glaucomatous Beagle dogs with ADAMTS10-OAG. Procedures In each dog, left or right eye was randomly selected for netarsudil treatment. Contralateral eyes were sham-treated with balanced salt solution (BSS). Following a 1-week baseline period, dogs were treated once daily (q24h) during week 2, and twice daily (q12h) during week 3; week 4 served as washout period. Efficacy was measured by diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter. Safety was assessed by routine ophthalmic examination, gonioscopy, and pachymetry. Differences in least square means of quantitative outcome measures were compared between netarsudil and BSS sham-treated eyes by linear Gaussian model. Results Baseline IOPs were 18.5 +/- 0.5 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) in normal and 27.8 +/- 1.0 mm Hg in OAG dogs. Even though mean IOPs were lower in netarsudil- vs sham-treated eyes, the overall differences were neither significant nor clinically relevant, regardless of treatment frequency (q24h-normal: sham 16.4 +/- 1.1 mm Hg vs treatment 15.6 +/- 1.0 mm Hg; q24hr-OAG: sham 25.8 +/- 2.3 mm Hg vs. treatment 25.7 +/- 2.4 mm Hg; q12hr-normal: sham 15.4 +/- 0.8 mm Hg vs. treatment 14.4 +/- 0.8 mm Hg; q12hr-OAG: sham 26.3 +/- 1.7 mm Hg vs. treatment 25.4 +/- 1.8 mm Hg). Netarsudil administration was well tolerated but resulted in significant, moderate-to-severe conjunctival hyperemia (P < .001). Conclusions Once or twice daily administration of netarsudil resulted in marginal and clinically irrelevant IOP decreases in normal and OAG-affected dogs. Except for conjunctival hyperemia, the drug was well tolerated.

Automated summary

The safety and efficacy of topically administered 0.02% netarsudil ophthalmic solution in normal and glaucomatous dogs with ADAMTS10-open-angle glaucoma were evaluated. The results showed that netarsudil administration resulted in marginal and clinically irrelevant intraocular pressure decreases, with significant conjunctival hyperemia as the main side effect.