Pharmacological profile of a new topical pilocarpine formulation

A new formulation based on pilocarpine hyaluronate salt has been shown to i mprove the bioavailability of the drug and to extend the duration of activi ty. We evaluated the extent of intraocular pressure reduction, the duration of action and the kinetics of miotic response of this formulation in compa rison with a commercial preparation with the same drug concentration. Ocula r hypertension in the rabbit was induced by alpha-chymotrypsin or by water loading. The hypotensive effect of the new formulation treatment was signif icantly greater and longer than that observed in rabbit eyes treated with t he commercial preparation both in the normotensive and in the hypertensive animals. Furthermore, we evaluated the miotic response in normotensive rabb its shelving a greater miotic response and an extended duration when the ey es were treated with the new formulation. The pharmacological profile of th e new formulation described in this study indicates an increase of efficacy and duration of action compared to the commercial preparation.