Topical ocular 0.1% cyclosporine A cationic emulsion in dry eye disease patients with severe keratitis: experience through the French early-access program

Purpose The objective of this study was to report the evaluation of efficacy and safety of cyclosporine A cationic emulsion (CsA CE) 0.1% for the treatment of severe keratitis in adults with dry eye disease (DED) in a French early-access program. Methods Patients with DED and severe keratitis (corneal fluorescein staining [CFS] score of 3-5 on the Oxford scale and/or the presence of corneal lesions [filaments or ulcers]) were enrolled in a compassionate use program (Authorization for Temporary Use [ATU]) for once-daily CsA CE, which was approved by French health authorities prior to its registration. Efficacy and safety at 1, 3, 6, and 12-month follow-up visits were evaluated. Results The ATU cohort (n=1,212; mean age =60.5 years; 79.5% female; 98.1% with severe keratitis; 74.5% with corneal lesions) consisted of 601 CsA-naïve patients and 611 patients treated previously with other CsA formulations. The primary DED etiology was Sjögren's syndrome (48.7%). Clinical benefit could be discerned among 548 evaluable patients from months 1 to 12: keratitis improvement, 44.8% at month 1 and 42.1% at month 12; keratitis stabilization, 47.2% and 45.7%, respectively; symptom improvement, 47.2% and 48.6%; and symptom stabilization, 44.8% and 45.0%. Corneal clearing (CFS score =0) increased from 4.8% (month 1) to 11.4% (month 12). No unexpected safety concerns were identified; instillation site pain (10.2%) and eye irritation (7.8%) were the most common adverse events. Conclusion The French ATU cohort provides supportive data on the clinical benefit of CsA CE in improving/stabilizing symptoms and corneal damage in DED patients with severe keratitis in real-world clinical practice.