Combigan more cost-effective than Cosopt

The fixed combination of brimonidine/timolol (Combigan;Allergan) is more cost effective than dorzolamide/timolol (Cosopt; Merck), according to a study published in the September/October issue of the European Journal of Ophthalmology.

A. Hommer, of the Krankenanstalt Sanatorium, Vienna, Austria, and colleagues conducted a review of the literature concerning the efficacy, tolerability and cost implications (across several European countries) of various IOP-lowering therapies administered for a three-month period.

The researchers determined equal efficacy of brimonidine 0.2% and dorzolamide 2% as either fixed combinations with or as adjunctives to timolol 0.5% therapy. At three and 12 months, however, the brominidine/timolol fixed combination proved to be the least costly option. Brimonidine as an adjunct to timolol was a more expensive alternative than the fixed combination, and dorzolamide as an adjunct to timolol represented a still more expensive option.

The team concluded that, as the efficacy was equal but the cost was lower, the brominidine/timolol fixed combination offered the greatest cost effectiveness in all countries studied of the IOP-lowering therapies reviewed.