Santen, Inc. Launches IKERVIS - The First And Only Ciclosporin Eye Drops Licensed In The UK, On 27th July 2015

ST ALBANS, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Santen UK Limited (St Albans, UK) today announced the launch of IKERVIS^® (ciclosporin 1 mg/mL eye drops emulsion in single-dose containers) on 27 July 2015 in the UK.

“The launch of IKERVIS® in the UK builds on Santen’s commitment to provide ophthalmologists with innovative products for unmet medical needs. Santen is proud to be the first manufacturer to make licensed ciclosporin eye drops available to patients in the UK.”

IKERVIS^® is licensed for the treatment of severe keratitis in adult patients with dry eye disease, which has not improved despite treatment with tear substitutes.¹

Severe keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea which can result from dry eye disease. Ciclosporin has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, until the launch of IKERVIS^®, there has been no topical preparation of ciclosporin licensed in the UK for the treatment of severe keratitis in patients with dry eye disease.¹

Severe keratitis in patients with dry eye disease presents a major challenge: patients present with serious ocular surface damage but their symptoms don’t always correlate to the clinical signs, making diagnosis difficult². However, inflammation if left untreated can lead to permanent damage³. IKERVIS^® combines the anti-inflammatory potential of ciclosporin combined with a novel cationic nano-emulsion formulation – Novasorb^® - to effectively deliver ciclosporin with once-daily dosing.^4,5 IKERVIS^® provides an important new option for the treatment of these patients.

IKERVIS^® is priced at £72.00 for 30 days’ supply.*

Craig Wallace, Santen General Manager UK & Ireland said, “The launch of IKERVIS^® in the UK builds on Santen’s commitment to provide ophthalmologists with innovative products for unmet medical needs. Santen is proud to be the first manufacturer to make licensed ciclosporin eye drops available to patients in the UK.”

References

1 Ikervis SmPC June 2015, available at https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/30584
2 Bron A, et al. Cornea 2003; 22: 640-50.
3 Baudouin C, et al. Br J Ophthalmol 2014;98:1168–1176
4 Lallemand F et al. J Drug Deliv 2012: 604204
5 Daull P, et al. 2013 Mar; 32(3):345-54

About Santen
As a specialty company dedicated to the ophthalmic and anti-rheumatic fields, Santen carries out the research, development, sales, and marketing of pharmaceuticals. The company has its bases in about 20 countries and delivers products in more than 70 countries. In Japan, Santen holds the No. 1 share in the prescription ophthalmic pharmaceutical market. As a leading company in the field of ophthalmology, Santen aims to contribute to society by supplying valuable products and services to satisfy unmet medical needs.

Santen Forward-Looking Statements
Information provided in this press release contains so-called “Forward-Looking Statements”. The realizations of these forecasts are subject to risk and uncertainty from various sources. Therefore, please note that the actual results may differ significantly from the forecasts. Business performance and financial condition are subject to the effects of change in regulations made by the governments of Japan and other nations concerning medical insurance, drug pricing and other systems, and to fluctuations in market variables such as interest rates and foreign exchange rates.