3 May 2022 - - US-based Santen Inc., the US subsidiary of Japanese eye care Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd has made Verkazia (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1% available in the United States for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, a rare and recurrent allergic eye condition that causes severe inflammation of the surface of the eye, the company said.

Verkazia which is administered as an eye drop is the first and only FDA-approved topical immunomodulator (drug that suppresses the immune system) for the treatment of VKC in children and adults.

Verkazia is a prescription-only, uniquely formulated cationic nanoemulsion that provides improved ocular bioavailability of cyclosporine, which has been shown to be effective in the management of VKC.

Verkazia is thought to act by blocking the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2 that can cause the chronic, severe, potentially debilitating allergic inflammation of the ocular surface seen in patients affected by VKC.

Worldwide, Verkazia is available for the treatment of VKC in the United States, Canada, and select countries across Asia and Europe. In several countries, it has been designated as an orphan drug.

The FDA approved Verkazia in June 2021 based on data from two randomized, multi-center, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, clinical trials (VEKTIS Study and NOVATIVE Study).

In the studies, Verkazia demonstrated improvements in inflammation of the cornea (keratitis score) and ocular itching. The most common adverse reactions reported in greater than 5 % of patients were eye pain and eye pruritus, which were usually transitory and occurred during instillation.

Verkazia is an important addition to the commercial products Santen has offered since the acquisition of Eyevance Pharmaceuticals in late 2020.

Verkazia (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1% is indicated for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children and adults.

To avoid the potential for eye injury or contamination, advise patients not to touch the vial tip to the eye or other surfaces.

The most common adverse reactions following the use of Verkazia were eye pain and eye pruritus.