Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the safety, tolerability, and pharmaco-dynamics of a novel prostanoid fluoroprostaglandin (FP)-receptor agonist, tafluprost (AFP-168), in healthy males.
Methods: This was a phase I study in healthy males 18-45 years of age (N = 49). Participants were randomized to receive 1 of 4 eye drops: tafluprost 0.0025% or 0.005%, latanoprost 0.005%, or a placebo, administered once-daily for 7 days, with 1 drop per eye. Safety and tolerability assessments and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements were performed at defined intervals.
Results: Tafluprost was generally well tolerated. No serious adverse events were reported and no participants withdrew owing to an adverse event. IOP decreased over time, compared with baseline, in all 4 treatment groups. Treatment with tafluprost 0.005% resulted in a significantly greater reduction in IOP, compared with either latanoprost 0.005% or a placebo, at various time points during treatment. Ocular hyperemia and photophobia were more common with tafluprost 0.0025% or 0.005%, compared with latanoprost 0.005%.
Conclusions: Tafluprost eye drops 0.0025% and 0.005% were generally well tolerated and safe. Tafluprost 0.005% reduced IOP more than placebo or latanoprost 0.005%. Therefore, tafluprost looks promising for further investigation.