We know from patent filings that the active ingredient in the in-development sansrosa product is brimonidine tartrate. This is also the active ingredient in Alphagan P, a treatment for glaucoma.
Alphagan P 0.1%, is known as an alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist, and is used to lower intraocular pressure and reduce ocular hypertension. Around 10-20% of users of Alphagan P experience adverse side effects including conjunctivitis, swelling of the conjuctiva and itchiness of the eye. Extreme caution is advised in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Sansrosa, also known by its in-house name COL-118, is based on brimonidine tartrate, and is in the process of being assessed by the FDA and it believed to be scheduled to start Phase 3 trials in early 2009.
A recently published paper has shed some light on the method of operation of brimonidine tartrate. This could be interesting to rosacea sufferers, especially those investigating the link between nerve mediated flushing and rosacea. Could the active ingredient also help rosacea sufferers by protecting against nerve damage in your skin ? This is a question that I think is worth investigating.
After topical instillation, brimonidine reduces intraocular pressure within 1 hour, and the peak effect occurs at 2–3 hours after dosing. Preclinical trials have shown that brimonidine has neuroprotective effects in animal models of optic nerve damage. Neuroprotection has been investigated as a therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative conditions including stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Interestingly, systemic administration of brimonidine, which does not reduce Intraocular Pressure, is also neuroprotective.
Abstract: Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a signifi cant risk factor for the development and progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy, but increasingly we appreciate that non-pressure dependent factors, are key to our understanding of the pathophysiology of these neurodegenerative diseases, that target the retinal ganglion cell. As we try to expand therapy beyond IOP control, medications are being assessed for their neuroprotective abilities. Brimonidine is an effective ocular hypotensive treatment both as a fi rst and second line agent, in the management of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Brimonidine tartrate 0.2% is generally safe and well tolerated, with its safety profi le further enhanced in the altered formulation brimonidine-Purite™ 0.1%. Beyond brimonidine’s pressure lowering capacity, laboratory and early clinical evidence supports its neuroprotective potential. We await validation of this in human clinical trials.
Keywords: brimonidine, neuroprotection, clinical effectiveness, tolerability
Hi. I live in SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA, and I am having a difficult time finding a doctor–even a dermatologist–that will take my condition seriously. I am suffering from both FACIAL AND OCULAR ROSACEA that is not responding to finacea, metrogel, etc. I have gotten a few V-beam treatments–about every 4 mos. or so–and those seem to do nothing.
The Derms I have gone to are Dr. Alan A. Semion and Dr. Suzanne Kilmer so far. I have also gone to see my PCP DR. Olivia Garcia.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, help me! If you know of someone who is a ROSACEA SPECIALIST IN MY AREA, I would love to get the REFERRAL.
Wilma
Hi Wilma,
I see you have already posted over at the rosacea support community site and have gotten some responses. Hopefully they are helpful.
http://rosacea-support.org/community/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1166
davidp.