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Dry eye disease occurs when the quantity and quality of tears fails to keep the surface of the eye properly lubricated. The disease causes a scratchy sensation or a feeling that something is in the eye. Other symptoms include stinging or burning, episodes of excess tearing following periods of stress, discharge, pain, and redness in the eye. The risk of developing dry eye increases with advancing age, and is more common in women than in men.
Cequa (cyclosporine A, ophthalmic solution) is a patented, novel, proprietary nanomicellar formulation of cyclosporine A, 0.09% in a clear, preservative-free, aqueous solution. In a multicentered, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled Phase 3 confirmatory study, 744 patients with dry eye were treated either with Cequa or its vehicle.
After 12 weeks of treatment, as compared to vehicle, Cequa showed statistically significant improvement in the primary end point, Schirmer’s score (a measurement of tear production) (p<0.01). Additionally, several key secondary endpoints showed statistically significant improvements compared to vehicle, with some showing improvement as early as 1 month following treatment.
Adverse events reported in the trial were mostly mild in nature. In a prior Phase 2b/3 clinical trial with 455 patients, Cequa demonstrated increased tear production (p<0.01) and was well tolerated by the study population. Additionally, several key secondary endpoints showed statistically significant improvements compared to vehicle.
The most common adverse reaction following the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.09% was instillation site pain (22%) and conjunctival hyperemia (6%). Other adverse reactions reported in 1% to 5% of the patients were eye irritation, blepharitis urinary tract infection, headache, and bronchitis. Cequa (cyclosporine ophthalmic solution) 0.09% is a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant indicated to increase tear production in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca-dry eye).