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Novaliq announces positive topline results for its CyclASol® phase 2b/3 ESSENCE trial in patients with Dry Eye Disease

  • The ESSENCE trial met its primary endpoint at 4 weeks and demonstrated superiority of CyclASol® over vehicle in change from baseline on corneal fluorescein staining
  • CyclASol® further showed statistically significant improvements over vehicle in secondary symptom endpoints
  • CyclASol® demonstrated an early onset of action, exceptional tolerability profile due to the benefits of its water-free formulation and its unique mechanism of active drug delivery

Heidelberg, Germany – Oct 18 2018 – Novaliq, a specialty pharmaceutical company for the development and commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on EyeSol®, the worldwide first water-free technology for ophthalmology, today announces positive topline results from ESSENCE, its first pivotal clinical trial of CyclASol® 0.1% for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

CyclASol® 0.1% is a preservative-free ophthalmic solution of 0.1% cyclosporine A in EyeSol® developed for the treatment of DED. Potential advantages to other cyclosporine A containing ophthalmic treatments are improved efficacy and an earlier onset of effect combined with an excellent tolerability profile.
Since November 2017, Novaliq has conducted the ESSENCE phase 2b/3 clinical trial, which enrolled 328 patients at 9 clinical sites in the United States. ESSENCE was designed to confirm the results of the CYS-002 proof of concept trial in the US, in which CyclASol® demonstrated strong drug effects vs. vehicle with excellent safety and tolerability [Scientific Posters AAO 2017, #PO059].

ESSENCE was a pivotal, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, multi-center phase 2b/3 clinical trial (NCT03292809) and was designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of topical CyclASol® 0.1% for the treatment of patients with aqueous deficient dry eye disease (DED). ESSENCE evaluated its primary efficacy endpoint at 4 weeks with continued dosing for efficacy and safety evaluations over a period of 3 months.

The ESSENCE trial met its primary efficacy endpoint, improvement of total corneal fluorescein staining over vehicle at Day 29 (4 weeks), with high statistical significance (p = 0.0002). The effect started as early as two weeks after start of treatment and was maintained over the entire duration of the study. Consistent with the previous clinical study, the central area of the cornea benefitted most. The clinical significance of these outcomes is further shown by a high responder rate (>50%) on both corneal (at 4 weeks) and conjunctival (at 3 months) staining.
The second primary endpoint OSDI®, which was tested hierarchically after total corneal fluorescein staining and was not powered, indicates that all patients benefit from the treatment. Secondary endpoints on DED symptoms, as measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS), reached statistical significance over vehicle at Day 29.

The study confirmed the excellent safety and tolerability profile of CyclASol®. The instillation site reaction adverse events occurred in 2.5% of the CyclASol®-treated group.
The consistency of efficacy outcomes across timepoints and endpoints demonstrated in this study are impressive. An improvement in corneal staining, particuarly in the central area of the cornea, is highly relevant, as it affects visual symptoms,” said John Sheppard MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Eastern Virginia Medical School. “The profile of CyclASol® 0.1%, twice-daily eye drop solution, addresses current medical needs for patients with DED and for clinicians who strive to offer their patients optimal risk-benefit therapies”.
We are very pleased with the outcomes from ESSENCE. CyclASol® 0.1% unfolds the full potential of cyclosporine for the first time in the treatment of DED and demonstrates the superior benefits of our non-aqueous, preservative-free formulation, allowing clinicians to treat more of their patients suffering from DED”, says Gabriela Burian MD, Consulting CMO for Novaliq GmbH. “These results provide pivotal evidence and a clear direction for Novaliq to pursue a timely completion of the clinical development of CyclASol®”.

Detailed topline results of ESSENCE will be presented for the first time by Novaliq’s CEO, Christian Roesky, during the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) on October 25th, 2018 in Chicago, USA. For further information, please send an email to event@novaliq.com.


Source:
1. Craig et al., TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report. Ocul Surf 2017, 15:276-283.
2. Ocular Drug Delivery Report, MCD Group, July 2017.
3. Ridder et al., Evaluation of Reading Speed and Contrast Sensitivity in DED. Optom Vis Sci 2013, 90:37-44.
4. Karakus et al., Effects of Prolonged Reading on Dry Eye. Ophthalmology 2018, 125:1500-1505.

Novaliq and Laboratoires Théa Announce Partnership and EU Approval for Vevizye (Ciclosporin 0.1% Eye Drops Solution)

Heidelberg, Germany, Cambridge, MA, USA, and CLERMONT-FERRAND, France, October 2, 2024 – Novaliq, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on the unique EyeSol® water-free technology, and Laboratoires Théa (Théa), the leading independent eye care group in Europe, announce European Commission approval of Vevizye® (ciclosporin 0.1% eye drops solution) in Europe and the closing of a partnership under which Théa has acquired the rights to commercialise the product in Europe and selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Novaliq Receives Positive CHMP Opinion FOR Vevizye® in Dry EYE Disease

Heidelberg, Germany, and Cambridge, MA, USA, July 29, 2024 – Novaliq, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on the unique EyeSol® water-free technology, announces that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation in the European Union for Vevizye®, intended for the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye disease in adult patients, which has not improved despite treatment with tear substitutes.

European Medicines Agency Accepts Novaliq’s Marketing Authorization Application for CyclASol® (Ciclosporin eye drops, solution 1 mg/mL) for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease

Heidelberg, Germany, and Cambridge, MA, USA, August 24, 2023 – Novaliq GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics, today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the marketing authorization application (MAA) for CyclASol (ciclosporin ophthalmic solution) for regulatory review. CyclASol is an investigational new drug treatment for dry eye disease in patients not responding to tear substitutes. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA will start its review of the MAA under the centralized procedure for all 27 member states of the European Union (EU).

Harrow Acquires U.S. and Canadian Commercial Rights to VEVYE® (Cyclosporine Ophthalmic Solution) 0.1% from Novaliq

VEVYE® is the First and Only Cyclosporine-Based Product Indicated for the Treatment of Both Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease with Efficacy Demonstrated After Four Weeks VEVYE® is the Only Water-Free Ophthalmic Product with Convenient Twice-Daily (BID) Dosing NASHVILLE, Tenn. & HEIDELBERG, Germany, July 18, 2023 – Harrow (Nasdaq: HROW), a leading U.S. eyecare pharmaceutical company, and Novaliq GmbH, a German biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics, today announced an agreement under which Harrow will acquire the U.S. and Canadian commercial rights for VEVYE® (cyclosporine ophthalmic solution) 0.1%, a patented, non-preserved, ophthalmic solution prescription drug based on Novaliq’s proprietary EyeSol® water-free technology. VEVYE, which is dispensed topically in a unique 10 microliter per one drop and is labeled for twicedaily (BID) dosing, is the first and only cyclosporine-based product indicated for the treatment of both signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). VEVYE was approved on May 30, 2023, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Senju Pharmaceutical and Novaliq Enter Into License Agreement For NOV03 (Perfluorohexyloctane Ophthalmic Solution) For the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease in Japan

Senju Pharmaceutical and Novaliq Enter Into License Agreement For NOV03 (Perfluorohexyloctane Ophthalmic Solution) For the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease in Japan Osaka, Japan & Heidelberg, Germany, and Cambridge, MA, USA, June 13, 2023 – Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a researched-based Japanese pharmaceutical company focusing the field of ophthalmology, and Novaliq GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on its unique EyeSol® water-free technology, are pleased to announce the closing of a license agreement on Japan rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize NOV03 (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution), the first and only prescription treatment for signs and symptoms of dry eye disease that directly targets tear evaporation.