Kowa Company, Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan, President & CEO: Yoshihiro Miwa, hereafter referred to as “Kowa”) announced that “Ripasudil Hydrochloride Hydrate” (hereafter referred to as “Ripasudil”), a Rho kinase inhibitor for the indications of Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension, has been approved by DCA (Drug Control Agency) in Malaysia.
Ripasudil has been developed as a global product, and was launched in December 2014 in Japan (Brand name: GLANATECR ophthalmic solution 0.4%) as the world’s first glaucoma drug with Rho kinase inhibitory activity. Ripasudil is the first Rho kinase inhibitor filed and approved by DCA. Kowa plans to establish a sales system to support the marketing of Ripasudil. Kowa continues efforts to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia.
Kowa focuses on sensory organ diseases as one of its key therapeutic areas, especially ocular disorders. Kowa is developing Ripasudil for patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy as well as those with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Kowa also is developing intraocular lenses for cataracts (Brand name: AVANSEE?) and ophthalmic medical equipment, including fundus cameras, seeking to address other unmet medical needs.

GLANATECR Ophthalmic Solution 0.4%

GLANATECR Ophthalmic Solution 0.4% includes Ripasudil as an active ingredient, and lowers intraocular pressure by promoting discharge of aqueous humor through a main outflow via trabecular meshwork-Schlemm’s canal as a result of Rho kinase inhibitory activity.
In clinical studies enrolling patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in Japan, GLANATECR Ophthalmic Solution 0.4% has been demonstrated to be effective in lowering intraocular pressure in both cases of mono-therapy and conjunctival therapy along with conventional treatment-glaucoma and ocular hypertension drugs.