The Use of Timolol for Wound Healing—A Review

In recent years, drug repurposing has gained traction as a method to accelerate the availability of effective treatments. This review focuses on timolol, originally a topical non-selective β-adrenergic antagonist used for increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma, and its emerging role in the wound healing landscape—a field that has been lacking in effective treatments for decades.

Preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted timolol’s promise as a therapeutic option in wound healing. Its benefits are attributed to various mechanisms including improved re-epithelialization, modulation of inflammation, and wound maturation, in addition to its impacts microbial quorum sensing and virulence. However, existing research also points to the need for larger, more comprehensive clinical trials to determine optimal dosing, efficacy, and safety. Some such trials are presently underway.

Timolol presents a new avenue for wound healing therapies, overcoming limitations seen in current treatment options. This review outlines timolol’s historical context in wound care, elaborates on its pharmacological mechanisms, and assesses ongoing research to validate its therapeutic potential. Future studies are needed for more conclusive data on its efficacy and safety in wound management.