Effect of OTX-101 in Patients with Dry Eye Disease at Day 14 of Treatment: Ocular Surface Endpoint Results from the Phase 2b/3 Clinical Trial

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by loss of tear film homeostasis, which initiates a cycle of ocular surface inflammation and damage. As ocular discomfort symptoms associated with DED can decrease quality of life, affected patients prefer treatments that rapidly improve the underlying disease process. OTX-101 0.09% (CEQUA(®)) is indicated to increase tear production in patients with DED. The current analysis assessed early efficacy of OTX-101 0.09% in adult patients with bilateral DED by evaluating ocular surface endpoints after 14 days of treatment in the phase 2b/3 trial. In this randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, dose-ranging study, patients received one drop of OTX-101 0.05%, OTX-101 0.09%, or vehicle per eye twice daily for 84 days. Corneal staining, conjunctival staining, tear breakup time (TBUT), and modified Symptom Assessment iN Dry Eye (SANDE) total global symptom score were assessed at baseline and Days 14, 28, 42, 56, and 84/early discontinuation. Overall, 455 patients were randomized (OTX-101 0.05%, n=151; OTX-101 0.09%, n=152; vehicle, n=152); only baseline and Day 14 results for the approved OTX-101 0.09% formulation and vehicle are presented. Least squares (LS) mean (standard error [SE]) change from baseline in conjunctival staining score was −1.3 (0.1) for OTX-101 and −1.0 (0.1) for vehicle. LS mean (SE) change from baseline in corneal staining score was −1.1 (0.17) for OTX-101 and −0.7 (0.17) for vehicle. LS mean (SE) change from baseline in TBUT was 0.52 (0.15) for OTX-101 and 0.36 (0.15) for vehicle. LS mean (SE) change from baseline in modified SANDE total global symptom score was −4.93 (1.54) for OTX-101 and −9.1 (1.54) for vehicle. OTX-101 0.09% demonstrated a numerically greater treatment effect compared with vehicle in conjunctival staining, corneal staining, and TBUT after 14 days.