KPI-121 1% for pain and inflammation in ocular surgery

Pain and inflammation are common experiences following ocular surgery and, if uncontrolled, can compromise patients' vision, functioning and quality of life. Corticosteroid drugs are available to manage inflammation and discomfort but have limitations in penetrating the ocular mucus barrier to reach the target ocular tissues. KPI-121 1% (INVELTYS^®) is a novel formulation of loteprednol etabonate that employs innovative proprietary technology to deliver nanoparticle-sized mucus-penetrating particles to the cornea. Results from clinical trials demonstrate that KPI-121 1% is effective and well tolerated. KPI-121 1% uses mucopenetrative technology for ophthalmic use and is the only US FDA-approved twice-daily ocular corticosteroid indicated for the treatment of inflammation and pain after ocular surgery.

Safety and efficacy of twice daily administration of KPI-121 1% for ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery

Purpose

KPI-121 is a nanoparticle suspension of loteprednol etabonate with improved ocular pharmacokinetics compared with marketed formulations. The efficacy and safety of KPI-121 1% ophthalmic suspension (INVELTYS™) dosed twice daily (BID) were evaluated in participants who had undergone cataract surgery.

Materials and methods

In two multicenter, randomized, double-masked, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled clinical trials, 386 participants with ≥ grade 2 anterior chamber cells (≥6 cells) on the day following routine cataract surgery were treated with KPI-121 1% and 325 participants were treated with placebo (vehicle); each group was dosed BID for 2 weeks. Primary efficacy endpoints were complete resolution of ocular inflammation by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and complete resolution of subject-rated ocular pain at Days 8 and 15 with no rescue medication before Day 15. Safety assessments included adverse events (AEs), visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurements, and evaluation of ocular AEs by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and dilated ophthalmoscopy.

Results

Both trials achieved statistical significance favoring KPI-121 1% BID for both primary efficacy endpoints. Combined data analysis showed that significantly more participants treated with KPI-121 vs vehicle achieved complete resolution of anterior chamber cells at Days 8 and 15 (P≤0.0001) and complete clearing of ocular pain at Days 4, 8, and 15 (P<0.0001). AEs were reported more frequently with vehicle than KPI-121.

Conclusion

KPI-121 1% ophthalmic suspension was effective in resolving postoperative ocular inflammation and pain when dosed BID for 2 weeks in patients following cataract surgery. KPI-121 was found to be safe and well tolerated in both trials.

Difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Durezol) administered two times daily for managing ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Durezol(®)) versus placebo administered before surgery for managing inflammation and pain following cataract extraction.

METHODS

Eligible subjects (N = 121) were randomized 2:1 to topical treatment with 1 drop difluprednate or placebo administered twice daily for 16 days, followed by a 14-day tapering period. Dosing was initiated 24 hours before unilateral ocular surgery. Clinical signs of inflammation (anterior chamber [AC] cell and flare grade, bulbar conjunctival injection, ciliary injection, corneal edema, and chemosis), ocular pain/discomfort, intraocular pressure (IOP), and adverse events were assessed.

RESULTS

Clearing of inflammation on day 14 (primary endpoint), defined as an AC cell grade of 0 (≤5 cells) and a flare grade of 0 (complete absence), was achieved in a significantly greater percentage of subjects treated with difluprednate, compared with placebo (74.7% vs 42.5%; P = 0.0006). A significantly greater percentage of difluprednate-treated subjects were free of ocular pain/discomfort on day 14 than placebo-treated subjects (64.6% vs 30.0%; P = 0.0004). Three subjects (3.7%) in the difluprednate group had a clinically significant IOP rise (defined as ≥21 mmHg and a change from baseline ≥10 mmHg at same visit).

CONCLUSIONS

Difluprednate, administered 2 times daily starting 24 hours before cataract surgery, was highly effective for managing ocular inflammation and relieving pain and discomfort postoperatively. Difluprednate was well tolerated and provides a convenient twice-daily option for managing postoperative ocular inflammation.