Loteprednol etabonate: a formulation for short-term use in inflammatory flares in dry eye disease

Loteprednol etabonate is a soft corticosteroid that is rapidly deactivated after reaching the general circulation, displaying good local activity and a high therapeutic index without inducing systemic side effects. In 2021, Kala Pharmaceuticals launched Eysuvis (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) 0.25% in the U.S. for the short-term (up to 2 weeks) treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on results from one phase II trial and three phase III trials showing Eysuvis significantly improved both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease and was well tolerated. Eysuvis is a novel loteprednol etabonate nanosuspension formulation developed by Kala using its AMPPLIFY mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) drug delivery technology. Use of this MPP formulation results in enhanced penetration of loteprednol etabonate into target tissue on the ocular surface. Eysuvis is the first FDA-approved ocular corticosteroid indicated for dry eye disease.