Micro Vision, the ophthalmic arm of Micro Labs, Karnataka's leading bulk and formulation major has now developed a drug to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) level in glaucoma patients.

The product Travoprost sold under the brand name Travo makes Micro Vision as the first Indian company to launch the same in India at a competitive price, stated Ashok Kumar S, vice president, Micro Vision.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness and the disease affects one out of every 200 people aged 50 and one in 10 above 80 years.

Effective glaucoma management requires early intervention and access to effective, safe and well tolerated treatments. It is well established that elevated intraocular pressure is a risk factor for glaucomatous damage to the optic nerve. Lowering IOP with the use of medications, laser treatments or surgical interventions can reduce this risk, informed the Micro Vision vice president.

Travoprost ophthalmic solution is a topical medication used for controlling the progression of glaucoma or ocular hyper tension by reducing IOP. The drug is a synthetic prostaglandin F2 alpha analogue. Clinical studies of Travoprost shows a reduction of 7 - 8 mm Hg in the IOP from the baseline pressure of 25 - 27 mm Hg.

Micro Vision has a total of 40 drugs for various eye related disorders and 7 drugs for glaucoma. Travoprost is the eighth product in the segment. To begin with, the company will focus on the domestic market and later take it for exports.

The product has been developed at the Micro R&D wing located ant Hosur and is manufactured at its Hosur unit. Alcon Inc. with its product Travatan is the only other company which manufactures the product globally.

The current size of the ophthalmic drug market in India is valued at Rs 450 crore growing at around 18 per cent annually. Micro Vision is a leading player along with Allergan, Sun Pharma, Cipla, FDC and Novartis to name a few.