Netarsudil for the Treatment of Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension: A Literature Review

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate netarsudil’s role as first-line therapy for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Data Sources: A literature search utilizing MEDLINE and CINAHL was performed using netarsudil and AR-13324 as keywords. Studies published from January 1970 to September 2020 were eligible. Study Selection and Data Extraction: For inclusion, articles were required to be published in English and participants enrolled in phase I, II, or III clinical trials. Articles were excluded if netarsudil was coformulated with another medication. Preclinical research, case reports, case series, review articles, citations without an abstract, and newsletters were excluded. Literature Review: The search retrieved 97 unique citations; 90 results were excluded, and 7 studies were included for analysis. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: In all, 20 years elapsed between the Food and Drug Administration’s approvals of distinct medications to treat OAG. Existing first-line therapies target the uveoscleral pathway, which is responsible for a small amount of aqueous humor outflow. Rho kinase inhibitors target the trabecular pathway, which is responsible for 90% of aqueous humor outflow; thus, Rho kinase inhibitors may significantly reduce intraocular pressure and improve clinical outcomes for patients with OAG or OHT. Conclusions: Evidence demonstrates that netarsudil is inferior to prostaglandin analogues and noninferior to topical β-blockers in the treatment of OAG and OHT. Hyperemia is a common adverse drug reaction, which often resolves after medication discontinuation. Additional phase III clinical trials and evidence-based guidelines are necessary to determine netarsudil’s position in OAG and OHT management.