Santen announced that Verkazia is now available for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in children and adults.
Remind me, what is Verkazia?
Verkazia (cyclosporine ophthalmic suspension 0.1%) is a uniquely formulated oil-in-water cationic emulsion that was approved by the FDA last year.
It provides improved ocular bioavailability of cyclosporine and works by inhibiting T-cell activation, which controls allergic response and inflammation. It can be used over a sustained period of time, which means the use of steroids can be reduced. Verkazia is recommended to be dosed four times daily and is approved for use in children as young as 4 years of age.
How did it do in clinical trials?
In clinical trials (VEKTIS and NOVATIVE), Verkazia was shown to significantly reverse damage to the ocular surface and reduce symptoms of severe VKC in children and adolescents (54% improvement vs. the control group that was given a cationic emulsion). Verkazia was also shown to improve the main symptoms of VKC: 68% improvement in light sensitivity, 58% improvement in tearing, 72% improvement in itching, and 67% improvement in discharge.
Need a refresher on VKC? Here you go!