Ocular Distribution of Cyclosporine Following Topical Administration of OTX-101 in New Zealand White Rabbits.

Purpose: Evaluate the ocular distribution, tolerability, and systemic exposure of cyclosporine (CsA) in New Zealand white rabbits following topical administration of OTX-101, a novel, clear aqueous nanomicellar solution developed for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED). Methods: The study design included single- and repeat-dose phases. In the single-dose phase, rabbits received a single instillation of OTX-101 0.05% or CsA ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Restasis®; Allergan, Irvine, CA) as a comparator. In the repeat-dosing phase, OTX-101 (0.01%, 0.05%, or 0.1% CsA) or comparator was instilled 4 times per day for 7 days. Samples collected included whole blood, tears, and ocular tissues/fluids (aqueous humor, choroid-retina, conjunctiva, cornea, superior eyelid, third eyelid, iris/ciliary body, lacrimal gland, lens, sclera, and vitreous humor). CsA concentrations were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Analysis included samples from 112 rabbits. The highest concentration of CsA following a single OTX-101 0.05% instillation occurred in the third eyelid (Cmax = 1,200 ng/g). Concentrations of CsA in the cornea and superior bulbar conjunctiva increased in a dose-related manner following repeated administration of OTX-101 formulations; Cmax [Tmax (h)] for cornea was 1,543 ng/g (6.50), 5,410 ng/g (7.0), and 8,123 ng/g (6.50), for 0.01%, 0.05%, and 0.1% CsA concentrations, respectively; for superior bulbar conjunctiva was 726 ng/g (6.50), 1,468 ng/g (6.50), and 2,080 ng/g (6.25), respectively. Conclusions: OTX-101 topical ophthalmic instillation resulted in extensive distribution of CsA in ocular tissues, particularly in target tissues for DED (cornea and conjunctiva), while systemic exposure was negligible.

A phase 1, open-label, single-arm study evaluating the ocular safety of OTX-101 and systemic absorption of cyclosporine in healthy human volunteers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular safety of OTX-101 0.09% - a novel, nanomicellar, clear, aqueous solution of cyclosporine (CsA) - and to determine the systemic exposure to CsA following ophthalmic administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Healthy volunteers ≥18 years of age were recruited for participation in this phase 1, open-label, single-center, single-arm, study. Subjects received one drop of OTX-101 0.09% in each eye every 12 hours for 7 days, and once on day 8. Blood samples were collected predose, and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours post-first dose on day 1 and day 8. CsA levels in whole blood samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters (maximal whole blood concentration [Cmax, ng/mL], time to Cmax [Tmax, hours]), and area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to the last measurement [AUC(0-t), h·ng/mL]) were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Safety assessments included subject-reported adverse events (AEs), vital signs, visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, biomicroscopy, and direct ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS: A total of 16 subjects were enrolled; 15 subjects completed the study. Blood sample analysis indicated limited systemic exposure to CsA; three subjects had a CsA concentration greater than or equal to the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) on day 1; only four subjects had three consecutive CsA concentration measurements ≥LLOQ on day 8; the mean±SD for Cmax was 0.17±0.02 ng/mL, Tmax was 1.5±0.58 hours, and AUC(0-t) was 0.53±0.06 h·ng/mL. Three subjects reported three AEs (eye pain, eye pruritis, and eye irritation) during the study. No clinically significant changes in the safety assessments were noted. CONCLUSION: The OTX-101 formulation was well tolerated. Systemic exposure to CsA was negligible in healthy volunteers after twice-daily ocular administration. No evidence for systemic accumulation of CsA was observed.

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Masked Study of OTX-101 Ophthalmic Solution 0.09% in the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of OTX-101, a novel aqueous nanomicellar formulation of cyclosporine (0.09%), in the treatment of patients with dry eye disease (DED). DESIGN: A randomized, multicenter, vehicle-controlled, double-masked, phase 3 clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (18-90 years of age) with a history and clinical diagnosis of DED, a global symptom score of 40 or more (range, 0-100), and a lissamine green conjunctival staining score of 3 or more and 9 or less (range, 0-12) in at least 1 eye. METHODS: Eligible patients entered a run-in period of 14 to 20 days in which all patients administered vehicle twice daily. Patients who remained eligible at the baseline (day 0) visit were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to twice-daily treatment with OTX-101 0.09% or vehicle for 84 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Efficacy assessments included signs (unanesthetized Schirmer tear test, corneal and conjunctival staining) and symptoms (global symptom score) of DED. The primary end point was the proportion of eyes with a clinically meaningful improvement (increase of ≥10 mm) in Schirmer test score at day 84. Safety evaluations included adverse events (AEs), visual acuity, and intraocular pressure monitoring, slit-lamp, dilated ophthalmoscopy, and fundus examinations. RESULTS: A total of 744 patients were randomized and received study medication (371 to OTX-101 0.09% and 373 to vehicle). The primary end point was achieved; a significantly greater percentage of eyes in the OTX-101 0.09% treatment group achieved an increase of 10 mm or more in the Schirmer test score at day 84 (OTX-101 0.09%, 16.6%; vehicle, 9.2%; P < 0.001). Significant improvements relative to vehicle also were observed for corneal (days 28, 56, and 84) and conjunctival (days 56 and 84) staining. The global symptom score was reduced from baseline in both treatment groups by approximately 30%; however, no significant separation between groups was observed. The OTX-101 0.09% formulation was well tolerated. Treatment-emergent AEs were primarily mild in intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically and statistically significant improvements in tear production and ocular surface integrity were observed in patients treated with OTX-101 0.09% for DED.

A Phase II/III, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, dose-ranging study of the safety and efficacy of OTX-101 in the treatment of dry eye disease.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of OTX-101, a clear nanomicellar aqueous solution of cyclosporine, in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a 12-week multicenter, randomized, prospective, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, dose-ranging clinical trial. Subjects were adults aged ≥18 years, with a total conjunctival staining score of ≥3 and ≤9, and global DED symptom score ≥40 (0-100 visual analogue scale). Following a 14-day vehicle run-in, subjects were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to twice daily treatment with OTX-101 0.09%, OTX-101 0.05%, or vehicle for 84 days. Co-primary efficacy end points were changes, from baseline to Day 84, in the total lissamine green conjunctival staining score in the designated study eye and in the global symptom score (both eyes). Secondary end points included total corneal fluorescein staining score, tear breakup time, and Schirmer's test score. RESULTS: In total, 455 subjects were randomized. Subjects treated with active drug experienced greater improvement in conjunctival staining than vehicle-treated patients (P<0.01 for both concentrations). All groups demonstrated improvements in global symptom score, but there were no differences among groups. Nominally significant differences were found between the active drug arms and vehicle for corneal staining scores and Schirmer's test scores. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild in severity; no serious ocular adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Both concentrations of OTX-101 met the co-primary sign end point (conjunctival staining) but not the co-primary symptom end point. OTX-101 0.09% demonstrated a notable impact on multiple signs of DED relative to vehicle and was well-tolerated.

A new agent for the treatment of noninfectious uveitis: rationale and design of three LUMINATE (Lux Uveitis Multicenter Investigation of a New Approach to Treatment) trials of steroid-sparing voclosporin.

Uveitis is an inflammatory, putative Th1-mediated autoimmune disease that affects various parts of the eye and is a leading cause of visual loss. Currently available therapies are burdened with toxicities and/or lack definitive evidence of efficacy. Voclosporin, a rationally designed novel calcineurin inhibitor, exhibits a favorable safety profile, a strong correlation between pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic response, and a wide therapeutic window. The LUMINATE (Lux Uveitis Multicenter Investigation of a New Approach to TrEatment) clinical development program was initiated in 2007 to assess the safety and efficacy of voclosporin for the treatment, maintenance, and control of all forms of noninfectious uveitis. If LUMINATE is successful, voclosporin will become the first Food and Drug Administration-approved corticosteroid-sparing agent for this condition.

Single-patient drug trial methodology for allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Historically, single-patient trials (SPTs) have been specifically designed for each patient, requiring significant time and effort for execution. There has been no previous attempt to standardize an SPT for routine commercial availability. OBJECTIVE: To validate the use of an SPT method to discriminate effectiveness and adverse events while comparing drugs/doses in patients with allergic rhinitis. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, 4 paired-period, multiple-crossover SPT. SETTING: Academic and commercial investigative sites. PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients with allergic rhinitis were evaluated for the most appropriate treatment; 6 of these participated in 2 different SPTs. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment of symptoms of allergic rhinitis by comparing either loratadine with chlorpheniramine maleate or loratadine with placebo in a series of SPTs. MEASUREMENTS: Effectiveness endpoints were selected from a modern, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved new drug application. Expected adverse events were directly solicited; unsolicited events were also recorded. Total signs and symptoms cumulatively included sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, teary eyes, and itchy eyes. Quality of life was measured by the most bothersome symptom and the patient's global evaluation. RESULTS: Of 42 initiated SPTs, 40 (95%) provided complete data and 1 (2%) provided partial data, resulting in 41 (98%) evaluable tests. Thirty-one evaluable SPTs compared loratadine 10 mg/d with chlorpheniramine maleate 12 mg twice daily, and 10 SPTs compared loratadine 10 mg/d with placebo. Four of 31 SPTs (13%) showed significant superiority for loratadine over chlorpheniramine maleate and 5 of 31 (16%) for chlorpheniramine maleate over loratadine. Twenty-two of 31 (71%) showed parity performance between loratadine and chlorpheniramine maleate. Loratadine was significantly superior to placebo in 3 of 10 trials (30%), consistent with rates found in 3 pivotal group trials used for FDA approval (24%, 17%, and 0%). Sleepiness could be discriminated for loratadine versus placebo and for chlorpheniramine maleate versus loratadine. CONCLUSIONS: The allergic rhinitis SPT proved to be acceptable to patients, feasible to administer, and reproducible. It can statistically discriminate effectiveness and adverse events, serving as a useful, prognostic tool in community practice.

Validation of a single-patient drug trial methodology for personalized management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: Single-patient trials (SPTs) are randomized, often multiple-crossover trials where patients serve as their own control to determine their appropriate treatment. Historically, SPTs have been individually customized, requiring significant time and cost for execution. The patient.s progress is tracked and evaluated in a blinded, multiple-crossover design comparing different therapies. Standardized, cost-efficient SPTs could help avoid (a) inappropriate extrapolation of the average-group outcomes from parallel, clinical trials to community-practice patients and (b) wasteful prescribing of high-cost drugs. Aggregate SPT results can also provide new data on appropriate drug prescribing in subpopulations. OBJECTIVE: To validate a standardized, commercially useful SPT method for comparing drugs/doses in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) requiring maintenance therapy. METHODS: A double-blind, single-dummy, randomized, 3 paired-period (28 days per period, 14 days per leg), multiple-crossover, SPT comparing omeprazole 20 mg daily and ranitidine hydrochloride (ranitidine) 150 mg twice daily was employed for 32 patients with GERD taking acid-suppressing medications chronically. Endpoints to determine effectiveness were selected from a recently approved new-drug application. Heartburn, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, epigastric pain, and nausea were evaluated daily. Use of rescue medications was also measured. Quality of life was measured weekly by the patient.s global evaluation. Observations for days 1 to 4 were excluded by using aggregate database sensitivity analyses to define appropriate surrogate washout periods. Frequently reported adverse events found in labeling for acid-suppressing drugs were directly solicited and compared between treatments. Unsolicited events were recorded. Patients completed a test-kit-acceptability questionnaire. RESULTS: Fourteen of 27 evaluable SPTs (52%) showed significant superiority for omeprazole over ranitidine and 7 of 27 (26%) for ranitidine over omeprazole. Four of 27 (15%) showed parity performance. Neither agent could be recommended in 2 of 27 (7%) of SPTs due to significant adverse events experienced with both drugs. For those patients taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prior to enrollment, the estimated step-down substitution rate from omeprazole to ranitidine, combined with the drug therapy discontinuation rate, was 40% (90% confidence interval: 22% to 68%). The majority of patients rated the test kits as appropriate and desirable. CONCLUSION: Omeprazole was the appropriate treatment in only 52% of these chronic users of acid-suppressing drugs. Eleven of 27 trials (41%) indicated that ranitidine was the preferred treatment. The SPT method proved acceptable to patients, feasible to administer, and reproducible. It can statistically discriminate effectiveness and adverse events and serve as a useful, prognostic tool in community practice by determining the least costly, evidence-based, appropriate treatment.