Salvatbiotech.com

SALVAT pharmaceutical company reaffirms its commitment to ocular safety
with this new development.
Launch of TEBARAT®, the first preservative-free azelastine for allergic
conjunctivitis.

The inflammatory process associated with conjunctivitis increases the vulnerability of ocular surface
tissues, so the use of antihistamines containing preservatives is not advisable. Most of the eye drops
currently prescribed contain benzalkonium chloride, a preservative that can be very harmful, especially if
the eye’s surface is already sensitised as a result of the allergic condition.
Tebarat®, by Laboratorios SALVAT, is presented as the first preservative-free azelastine eye drops,
indicated in the prevention and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.

First choice in allergic conjunctivitis

Although most of the eye drops currently used still contain potentially harmful preservatives, there is a
clear tendency to eliminate them. In the last few years, molecular biologists, ophthalmologists and
neurologists have agreed that, “based on experimental and clinical reports, it is advisable to use solutions
free of BAK (benzalkonium chloride) whenever possible” (Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 2010).
Recently (March 2011), a paper in another important journal in basic and applied ophthalmologic research,
Molecular Vision, confirmed that, specifically in cases of allergic conjunctivitis, eye drops with
benzalkonium chloride in their formulas cause reduced corneal cell viability, increased apoptosis
(programmed cell death) and epithelial barrier loss. Therefore, this clinical research conducted in France
concludes that “eye drops free of benzalkonium chloride should be the treatment of choice in allergic
conjunctivitis”.
Ocular allergies affect a significant number of people in Spain; it is estimated that at least 25% of the
population suffers from this problem, which particularly affects young people. Allergies peak in the spring,
in what is known as “seasonal al ergy”, due to the pollen in the atmosphere; however, a large part of the
population suffers from these problems all year, largely due to allergies to the mites and dust produced by
air conditioning and heating systems. This form is known as “perennial allergy” and, although less intense
than the seasonal version, it is chronic in most patients.
Ocular allergies cause inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is why it is known as allergic conjunctivitis.
In addition to inflammation, the usual signs and symptoms are itchy eyes, lacrimation, photophobia and a
sensation of a foreign body in the eye. It can also affect the nasal mucosa (sneezing, itching, runny nose
or congestion), the bronchi (cough, expectoration, wheezing or dyspnoea) or the skin (itching, erythema,
etc.).
When referring to allergies, we usually speak of “antihistamines” to refer to the medicines available for
their treatment; however, depending on where they act, we can divide them into mast-cell stabilisers
(they prevent mast cells from releasing histamines) or antihistamines (they prevent histamine from biding
to receptors and triggering the allergic process). Mast-cell stabilising active substances have a preventive
effect, and are usually less effective in stopping an allergic process. Antihistamines, however, are able to
control an allergic process but not prevent it.
Of the active substances used in medicines for the treatment and prevention of allergic conjunctivitis,
azelastine acts on both levels, as both a mast-cell stabiliser and an antihistamine, and it also has anti-
inflammatory effects.
Tebarat®, the first azelastine eye drops in a sterile, preservative-free, single-dose presentation, is the most
cutting-edge treatment for allergic conjunctivitis. Thanks to its triple effect as a mast-cell stabiliser,
antihistamine and anti-inflammatory agent, Tebarat® is the best alternative for treating an allergic process
affecting the eyes, whether by ophthalmologists or general practitioners.
Tebarat® has been developed by Laboratorios SALVAT with its own technology.

Source: http://www.salvatbiotech.com/Content/Media/d4da18bdb43745378aa651867022cc28/SALVATlaunchesTebarat.pdf