Real-world treatment patterns of OTX-101 ophthalmic solution, cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion, and lifitegrast ophthalmic solution in patients with dry eye disease: a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease (DED) is a disorder characterized by loss of tear film homeostasis that causes ocular surface inflammation and damage. The incidence of DED increases with age. Cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.09% (CEQUA(®); OTX-101), cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Restasis(®); CsA), and lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5% (Xiidra(®); LFT) are anti-inflammatory agents indicated for DED. This analysis compared treatment patterns in patients with DED receiving OTX-101, CsA, or LFT. METHODS: This real-world, retrospective, longitudinal cohort study utilized Symphony Health Integrated Dataverse claims from July 2019 to June 2021. The dataset included all patients with OTX-101 claims and patients with CsA or LFT claims randomly selected 2:1 to OTX-101. Patients were sorted into 3 cohorts based on index treatment. Index date was that of first treatment claim, and follow-up period was from index date to end of clinical activity or data availability. Time to treatment discontinuation (TTD), probability of discontinuation, and treatment persistence were assessed for OTX-101 vs. CsA, then OTX-101 vs. LFT. Subgroup analysis was performed based on age and prior DED treatment. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were used to examine TTD. A logistic model evaluated association between index treatment and discontinuation. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and P-values were reported, with statistically significant associations based on P-values < 0.05. RESULTS: Overall, 7102 patients (OTX-101 n = 1846; CsA n = 2248; LFT n = 3008) were eligible. Median TTD was 354 days for patients receiving OTX-101 vs. 241 days for CsA and 269 days for LFT. Log-rank test indicated TTD was significantly longer for patients on OTX-101 vs. CsA (P = 0.033). Patients on CsA were 35% more likely to discontinue treatment than patients on OTX-101; OTX-101 and LFT groups had similar discontinuation rates. After 360 days, 49.8% of patients receiving OTX-101 remained on treatment vs. 39.4% of patients on CsA (P = 0.036) and 44.0% of patients on LFT (P = 0.854). CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving OTX-101 remained on treatment significantly longer and were significantly less likely to discontinue treatment than patients on CsA. Older patients remained on OTX-101 significantly longer than CsA. These findings highlight treatment pattern differences in patients with DED receiving these anti-inflammatory agents. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-023-03174-y.