Durham-based Inspire Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial with a second experimental drug to treat glaucoma.
The most recently opened study is a placebo-controlled, dose-escalating trial of INS117548 Ophthalmic Solution, designed to evaluate its safety, tolerability and intraocular pressure-lowering effects in approximately 60 people with early-stage glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Inspire's other anti-glaucoma compound in Phase 1 clinical testing is code-named INS115644.
"We are pleased to begin clinical testing of INS117548 since it represents a novel approach to lowering intraocular pressure," said R. Kim Brazzell, Ph.D., Inspire's senior vice president, Ophthalmic Research and Development. "This is an important milestone for Inspire as it strengthens our ophthalmic pipeline in disease states with unmet medical need such as glaucoma, which is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States."