Cyclosporine A tested for dry eye

Tampa, FL-Two companies are researching cyclosporine A as a potential treatment for dry eye syndrome.

Sirion Therapeutics Inc. has initiated a phase III clinical trial testing cyclosporine (ST-603). Meanwhile Novagali Pharma announced it has received FDA approval to launch a phase III trial of its cyclosporine A ocular product (Nova22007).

Novagali's product is designed to treat patients with moderate-to-severe dry eye syndrome. It is a proprietary cationic emulsion developed to provide optimal penetration of cyclosporine A in tissues of the eye surface.

The company met with the FDA in July 2006 to review the quality, safety, and efficacy data generated in the European phase II clinical study in patients with Sjögren's syndrome associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Sirion Therapeutics also announced it is launching a phase III trial of another pipeline compound, difluprednate (ST-601), for the treatment of anterior uveitis.