Acucela
Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing
new treatments for blinding eye diseases, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd., today announced the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial to
evaluate rebamipide ophthalmic suspension in patients with dry eye
syndrome. Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular
surface, and one of the most common diseases treated by ophthalmologists
in their daily practices. According to the 2011 Market Scope Dry Eye
Report, 25 million Americans and 370 million patients worldwide
suffer from dry eye.
Rebamipide ophthalmic suspension is a novel compound discovered by
Otsuka Pharmaceutical and has a new mechanism of action to increase the
level of mucin in the tear film covering the conjunctiva and cornea. In
January 2012, the drug was launched for the treatment of dry eye
syndrome in Japan as Mucosta® ophthalmic suspension UD2%.
Subjective symptoms of dry eye vary and can include dryness, foreign
body sensation, itching, burning sensation, eye pain and photophobia.
Advanced dry eye syndrome may lead to serious complications and ocular
surface damage that can result in decreased vision.