Novel dry eye drug up for FDA approval

Shire submitted a New Drug Application with the U.S. FDA for a new compound that addresses both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

The submission is based on results from four clinical trials involving more than 1,800 subjects, showing Lifitegrast has potential to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye.

Lifitegrast is a small-molecule integrin antagonist believed to work by reducing inflammation through binding inhibition of the proteins lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, influencing T-cell activation and cytokine release. The interaction between these two proteins plays a key role in the chronic inflammation associated with dry eye.