Novaliq, a pharmaceutical company with a disruptive drug delivery platform that transforms poorly soluble drugs into effective therapeutics for ophthalmology, has begun enrolling patients in a phase II clinical trial that will evaluate the safety, efficacy and tolerability of CyclASol for the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED). CyclASol is a clear, preservative free ophthalmic solution of cyclosporine in SFA (semifluorinated alkanes).

This phase II study is a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy and tolerability of topical CyclASol for the treatment of moderate to severe DED. Patients will be randomized to one of four treatment groups that include two CyclASol groups, a placebo (vehicle control) group and an open label cyclosporine A 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion group. Study subjects will self-administer one drop twice daily, returning for examination periodically and at the end of the trial at four months. The study is being conducted in approximately four sites in the U.S., and total planned enrollment is 200 patients.

“CyclASol is differentiated from other cyclosporine containing treatments for dry eye due to its innovative vehicle,” said George Ousler, vice president of Dry Eye at Ora. “In a murine model of DED, CyclASol was shown to be at least equally effective but with a significantly faster therapeutic response compared to commercially available cyclosporine and dexamethasone products. Furthermore, the clinical phase I data has demonstrated excellent tolerability.”

"The initiation of this phase II trial is an important step in advancing our clinical development plan," said Bernhard Günther, managing director and CEO of Novaliq. “In 2015, we made our footprint in the OTC dry eye market with the successful European launch of NovaTears. Given the lack of treatment options currently available for patients with more severe DED, there is a need for novel, non-blurring, non-irritating and preservative- and water-free formulations."