The Chemistry of Prostaglandin Synthesis
It is interesting that all three prostaglandin drugs are manufactured
by one company: Caymen Chemical (www.caymanchem.com). The web
site, along with expert lecturers we have herd, has helped
us gain an updated perspective on this drug class.
Latanoprost is an esterfied prodrug and does not render its
potent interaction with the FP receptor until hydrolyzed to
its free acid. In like manner, travoprost is also an esterfied
prodrug. As with latanoprost, enzymes in the ocular tissues
convert the prodrug into its chemically active free acid. Caymen
Chemical states, “xbimatoprost is converted by an amidase enzymatic
activity in the bovine and human cornea to yield the corresponding
free acid. The free acidxis a potent receptor agonist.”
Since all three are enzymatically converted into potent FP
receptor agonists, it explains how all three behave similarly
and share a common, qualitative side effect profile, even though
quantitatively unique.
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