Future of Kala Pharma's dry eye drug uncertain after mixed results

Tamara Mathias, Manas Mishra-JANUARY 5, 2018

(Reuters) - Mixed results from two late-stage studies testing Kala Pharmaceuticals Inc’s drug to provide temporary relief from dry eye disease cast doubt on the drug’s path forward and sent shares down 16 percent in early trading on Friday.

The trials met three out of four main goals, falling short of showing a statistically significant reduction in discomfort of the eye in one study.

“The question is will the FDA accept this or make them do another trial before approval?” Wedbush analyst Liana Moussatos told Reuters, dubbing Kala’s first trial “the best results” for dry eye she’d seen in a late-stage study.

The company said it had no immediate discussions with the U.S. regulator and would need to conduct further analyses before determining a path forward.

 

If Kala’s drug, KPI-121, were to secure U.S. approval it would be the first treatment to provide rapid relief for acute, episodic dry eye flares.

The drug would face no real competition as approved treatments for dry eye such as Allergan Plc’s blockbuster Restasis and Shire Plc’s Xiidra are indicated for chronic patients with continuous symptoms of the disease, rather than flare-ups.

Dry eye is caused by either a lack of tears, or a “poor quality” of tears that cannot lubricate the surface of the eye, resulting in itching and inflammation.

The disease affects about 33 million people in the United States, the company said.

Moussatos called KPI-121 a “clean drug” and pointed to the possibility of it gaining approval for use in severely affected patients, with an FDA-mandated requirement for a post-marketing trial.

If approved, the drug could rake in peak sales of $1.9 billion in 2027, she added.

Shares of the Waltham, Massachusetts-based drug developer slumped over 20 percent to about $14 before the bell, but are currently trading at $14.77.

The FDA is currently reviewing Kala’s Inveltys, a treatment for inflammation and pain in patients post eye surgery, and is expected to announce its decision by Aug. 24.

Dry Eye Symptom Checklist

If you experience any of these symptoms or have any of the conditions listed you may be suffering from CDES.  Left untreated, your symptoms may likely intensify, making your daily life unpleasant and may lead to worsening physical problems like reduced vision and damage to the eyes.  Ask a doctor at ProEye for more information.

• Redness
• Dry sensation
• Burning
• Gritty, sandy feeling
• Tired eyes
• Watery eyes
• Stinging
• Itching
• Mucous discharge
• Sensitivity to light
• Soreness, tenderness
• Irritation from wind or smoke
• Inconsistent blurry vision

If you have any of these conditions combined with any of the above symptoms you may be more likely to have Dry Eye:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Joint pain
• Thyroid
• Rosacea
• Birth sontrol
• Computer use
• Antihistamine use
• LASIK
• Dry throat/dry mouth
• Sjogrens Syndrome
• Contact lens sensitivity
• Reduced Contact Lens wearing time

 

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