A randomized, controlled study of the efficacy and safety of a new eyedrop formulation for moderate to severe dry eye syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study compared the efficacy and safety of hyaluronic acid (HA)-trehalose, a new eyedrop containing trehalose (a natural bioprotectant) and HA, to an established formulation containing only HA. METHODS: This was a phase III, randomized, active-controlled, investigator-masked, multicenter study in France and Tunisia. In all, 105 adult patients (≥18 years) with moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED) received either HA-trehalose (n = 52) or HA (n = 53) 3-6 times per day for 84 days. The primary efficacy variable was the Oxford grading score at day 35. A questionnaire on dry eye and symptoms, Schirmer test, tear break-up time, conjunctival hyperemia, and global performance were assessed as secondary efficacy criteria at baseline, day 35, and day 84. Safety assessments were standard. RESULTS: Noninferiority of HA-trehalose to HA for keratoconjunctivitis sicca assessed by Oxford grading score was demonstrated at day 35. For the secondary efficacy parameters, reductions in dry eye questionnaire classes of none or mild at day 84, dry eye symptoms of stinging, itching, and blurred vision at day 35, and investigator (days 35 and 84) and patient assessments (day 35) of global performance were significantly better for HA-trehalose. There were no clinically meaningful differences between groups for the other secondary criteria. Both treatments were well-tolerated, and there were fewer ocular symptoms upon instillation and fewer adverse events for HA-trehalose than for HA. CONCLUSIONS: Hyaluronic acid-trehalose is effective and safe, with better patient satisfaction, than existing HA-only eyedrops particularly from the first month of treatment, and offers a therapeutic advancement in the treatment of moderate to severe DED.

Efficacy and safety of preservative-free latanoprost eyedrops, compared with BAK-preserved latanoprost in patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma.

AIM: To compare efficacy (intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction) and safety of preservative-free latanoprost (T2345) to benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved latanoprost (BPL; Xalatan) in ocular hypertension (OHT) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. METHODS: Prospective, international, multicentre, randomised, investigator-masked, parallel-group trial. After a wash-out period, POAG or OHT patients, previously managed by BPL monotherapy, randomly received T2345 or BPL (one drop into the affected eye(s)) once daily from D0 to D84. Change in IOP was measured at 09:00 (±1 h) from D0 to D84 in the worse eye. RESULTS: Mean IOP reduction (D0-D84) was -8.6±2.6 mm Hg (-36%) on T2345 and -9.0±2.4 mm Hg (-38%) on BPL, confirming non-inferiority of T2345 to BPL. Non-inferiority of T2345 was observed from D15. The most frequent ocular adverse event, drug intolerance, was reported in 1 (0.5%) patient on T2345 versus 4 (2.1%) patients on BPL. Moderate to severe conjunctival hyperaemia was less frequent on T2345 than on BPL at D42 (20.2% vs 30.6%; p=0.003) and D84 (21.4% vs 29.1%; p=0.02). Upon instillation, the global subjective ocular symptom score was significantly lower on T2345 than BPL on D42 (0.15 vs 0.41; p=0.001) and D84 (0.18 vs 0.46; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preservative-free latanoprost has the same efficacy as BPL, with improved local tolerance.