New drugs in ophthalmology: Metipranolol

Metipranolol has been approved for the treatment of ocular conditions in which lowering of the IOP is likely to be of therapeutic benefit, including in patients with ocular hypertension and with chronic open angle glaucoma. It is presently marketed in 5 ml or 10 ml plastic ophthalmic bottle dispensers with a controlled drop tip as Optipranolol in a 0.3% concentration only. Metipranolol has been found to be equal in efficacy to 0.25% timolol. The major benefit to this drug is its potential savings over the other currently available beta blockers. For example, a 10 ml bottle of Timoptic 0.5% costs approximately $27.44 while a 10 ml bottle of Optipranolol costs $12.50 (a 45% savings). The foreseeable disadvantage to this drug is that it is only being marketed in the United States as a 0.3% solution, whereas the other nonselective beta blockers are available in two concentrations (0.25% and 0.5%).