Title:Potential Role of Rho-Associated Protein Kinase Inhibitors for Glaucoma Treatment
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
Author(s): Basilio Colligris, Almudena Crooke, Fernando Huete and Jesus Pintor
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Glaucoma, heteroaromatic compounds, inhibitors, intraocular pressure, Rho-kinase, trabecular meshwork, Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitors, anti-glaucoma drugs, ROCK inhibitors, Schlemm´s canal
Abstract: Rho kinase inhibitors are widely considered as a new treatment for glaucoma. Rho kinase inhibition has been
shown in vitro and in vivo to lower intraocular pressure. Furthermore in the first clinical reports involving healthy human
subjects, the results were quite promising. The potential of this new class of medicines is enormous in a field where there
were not many developments lately. The inhibition of Rho kinase lowers the intraocular pressure by increasing the outflow
through the trabecular meshwork. Increased blood flow to the optic nerve and a possible delay of optic nerve cell
death has also been reported. As a consequence, the exploration of pharmacological inhibitors of Rho kinase signaling is
actively being pursued by a number of pharmaceutical companies such as Senju Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Kowa, Santen,
Aerie, Inspire and others. In this article, we review the latest patents in this field, with their corresponding literature, regarding
Rho kinase inhibitors for the treatment of intraocular pressure and summarize the many roles of Rho kinase signaling
in the eye.
