LEXINGTON, Massachusetts, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
• Xiidra is the only prescription eye drop approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of both signs and symptoms of dry eye disease
• Resources are available to support patients seeking information regarding coverage and savings offers
• Xiidra is the first medication in a new class of drugs - a lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) antagonist - approved by the FDA for dry eye disease
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) today announced that Xiidra™ (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, a twice-daily prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, is now available by prescription in the United States. An estimated 16 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with dry eye, a disease associated with inflammation that may eventually lead to damage to the surface of the eye. An eye care professional can diagnose dry eye disease based on signs and symptoms and determine management options, which could include the use of a prescription treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xiidra on July 11, 2016.
"Shire worked rapidly to bring Xiidra to market following the approval of this new treatment - a first-in-its-class medication and the first prescription treatment to be approved for both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease," said Perry Sternberg, Head, U.S. Commercial. "We have a full range of modern, educational access programs to support the millions of patients across the U.S. living with dry eye disease. This delivers on our commitment to showing up differently in ophthalmics."
"As the number of people presenting with the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease increases, the availability of a new prescription treatment option for this condition is an exciting development," Eric D. Donnenfeld, M.D., FAAO, National Medical Director, TLC Laser Eye Centers. "We now have a new prescription eye drop that is specifically indicated for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, an often common eye condition that may be progressive."
With the availability of Xiidra, Shire has patient-focused resources to share information about prescription coverage and savings (subject to eligibility):
• ask iiris, a phone service offering live-person responses to questions regarding information about insurance coverage, benefits, co-pays and availability in pharmacies. To ask iiris, please call 1-844-my-iiris.
• Xiidra iinsider, an optional program that patients can sign up for to receive information and special offers, either via text or email.
About Xiidra™ (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%
Xiidra™ (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% is a prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. It is dosed twice per day, approximately 12 hours apart, in each eye. The active ingredient in Xiidra, lifitegrast, binds to the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), a cell surface protein found on leukocytes, and blocks the interaction of LFA-1 with its cognate ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). ICAM-1 may be overexpressed in corneal and conjunctival tissues in patients with dry eye disease. This interaction can contribute to the formation of an immunological synapse resulting in T-cell activation and migration to target tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated that lifitegrast may inhibit T-cell adhesion to ICAM-1 in a human T-cell line and may inhibit secretion of inflammatory cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The exact mechanism of action of lifitegrast in dry eye disease is not known. Xiidra is packaged in a foil pouch containing five low density polyethylene 0.2 mL single-use containers, and is supplied in a carton of 60 single use containers.
Important Safety Information
The most common side effects of Xiidra include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when the drops are applied to the eyes, and an unusual taste sensation (dysgeusia). To help avoid eye injury or contamination of the solution, do not touch the container tip to your eye or any surface. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using Xiidra and wait for at least 15 minutes before placing them back in your eyes.
It is not known if Xiidra is safe and effective in children under 17 years of age.
For additional information, click here for full Prescribing Information including Patient Information and discuss with your doctor.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
About Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. It is diagnosed by an eye care professional based on patient reported symptoms, such as eye dryness, overall eye discomfort, stinging, burning, a gritty feeling or fluctuating blurry vision, as well as signs, which can be objectively evaluated by an eye care professional through various tests to determine the presence of dry eye disease. Aging and gender are recognized as traditional risk factors of dry eye disease while modern risk factors include prolonged digital/computer screen time, contact lens wear and cataract or refractive surgery. Dry eye is an often chronic ocular disease associated with inflammation that may eventually lead to damage to the surface of the eye. Dry eye may be progressive and is a common complaint to eye care professionals.
Shire's Commitment to Ophthalmics
In May 2014, Shire entered into ophthalmics, solidifying its commitment to growing in this emerging therapeutic area. Shire's multi-faceted approach to discovery, development, and delivery in both rare diseases and specialty conditions includes our efforts to address unmet needs in eye care.
Shire's ophthalmics business has been driven by a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth. Committed to growing its reputation as a leading biotech company, Shire is focused on continuing to expand its ophthalmics portfolio to include treatment options for rare diseases and those for anterior and posterior segment eye conditions. In just three years, acquisitions include Foresight Biotherapeutics, SARcode Bioscience, Premacure AB, and BIKAM Pharmaceuticals, which have helped bolster Shire's early-, mid- and late-stage ophthalmics pipeline. The Company currently has an ophthalmics pipeline of investigational candidates in infectious conjunctivitis, the prevention of retinopathy of prematurity, autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, and glaucoma.
• Resources are available to support patients seeking information regarding coverage and savings offers
• Xiidra is the first medication in a new class of drugs - a lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) antagonist - approved by the FDA for dry eye disease
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) today announced that Xiidra™ (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, a twice-daily prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, is now available by prescription in the United States. An estimated 16 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with dry eye, a disease associated with inflammation that may eventually lead to damage to the surface of the eye. An eye care professional can diagnose dry eye disease based on signs and symptoms and determine management options, which could include the use of a prescription treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xiidra on July 11, 2016.
"Shire worked rapidly to bring Xiidra to market following the approval of this new treatment - a first-in-its-class medication and the first prescription treatment to be approved for both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease," said Perry Sternberg, Head, U.S. Commercial. "We have a full range of modern, educational access programs to support the millions of patients across the U.S. living with dry eye disease. This delivers on our commitment to showing up differently in ophthalmics."
"As the number of people presenting with the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease increases, the availability of a new prescription treatment option for this condition is an exciting development," Eric D. Donnenfeld, M.D., FAAO, National Medical Director, TLC Laser Eye Centers. "We now have a new prescription eye drop that is specifically indicated for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, an often common eye condition that may be progressive."
With the availability of Xiidra, Shire has patient-focused resources to share information about prescription coverage and savings (subject to eligibility):
• ask iiris, a phone service offering live-person responses to questions regarding information about insurance coverage, benefits, co-pays and availability in pharmacies. To ask iiris, please call 1-844-my-iiris.
• Xiidra iinsider, an optional program that patients can sign up for to receive information and special offers, either via text or email.
About Xiidra™ (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%
Xiidra™ (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% is a prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. It is dosed twice per day, approximately 12 hours apart, in each eye. The active ingredient in Xiidra, lifitegrast, binds to the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), a cell surface protein found on leukocytes, and blocks the interaction of LFA-1 with its cognate ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). ICAM-1 may be overexpressed in corneal and conjunctival tissues in patients with dry eye disease. This interaction can contribute to the formation of an immunological synapse resulting in T-cell activation and migration to target tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated that lifitegrast may inhibit T-cell adhesion to ICAM-1 in a human T-cell line and may inhibit secretion of inflammatory cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The exact mechanism of action of lifitegrast in dry eye disease is not known. Xiidra is packaged in a foil pouch containing five low density polyethylene 0.2 mL single-use containers, and is supplied in a carton of 60 single use containers.
Important Safety Information
The most common side effects of Xiidra include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when the drops are applied to the eyes, and an unusual taste sensation (dysgeusia). To help avoid eye injury or contamination of the solution, do not touch the container tip to your eye or any surface. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using Xiidra and wait for at least 15 minutes before placing them back in your eyes.
It is not known if Xiidra is safe and effective in children under 17 years of age.
For additional information, click here for full Prescribing Information including Patient Information and discuss with your doctor.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
About Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. It is diagnosed by an eye care professional based on patient reported symptoms, such as eye dryness, overall eye discomfort, stinging, burning, a gritty feeling or fluctuating blurry vision, as well as signs, which can be objectively evaluated by an eye care professional through various tests to determine the presence of dry eye disease. Aging and gender are recognized as traditional risk factors of dry eye disease while modern risk factors include prolonged digital/computer screen time, contact lens wear and cataract or refractive surgery. Dry eye is an often chronic ocular disease associated with inflammation that may eventually lead to damage to the surface of the eye. Dry eye may be progressive and is a common complaint to eye care professionals.
Shire's Commitment to Ophthalmics
In May 2014, Shire entered into ophthalmics, solidifying its commitment to growing in this emerging therapeutic area. Shire's multi-faceted approach to discovery, development, and delivery in both rare diseases and specialty conditions includes our efforts to address unmet needs in eye care.
Shire's ophthalmics business has been driven by a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth. Committed to growing its reputation as a leading biotech company, Shire is focused on continuing to expand its ophthalmics portfolio to include treatment options for rare diseases and those for anterior and posterior segment eye conditions. In just three years, acquisitions include Foresight Biotherapeutics, SARcode Bioscience, Premacure AB, and BIKAM Pharmaceuticals, which have helped bolster Shire's early-, mid- and late-stage ophthalmics pipeline. The Company currently has an ophthalmics pipeline of investigational candidates in infectious conjunctivitis, the prevention of retinopathy of prematurity, autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, and glaucoma.
