Ophthalmology Therapeutic Roundup — December 8, 2016

Here's a look at some of the latest news regarding ophthalmic drugs and therapies from the past week. 

• EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported promising data from the third stage of its Phase 1b/2a trial assessing lead product candidate, iontophoretic EGP-437, for the treatment of ocular inflammation and pain in post-surgical cataract patients. According to the company, patients receiving EGP-437 at both dosing levels experienced reduced pain at all time points, with 70 patients of patients having a pain score of zero as early as day 1 versus the placebo cohort where only 10 percent achieved a pain score of zero at day 1.
• Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it has completed patient enrollment for its second Phase 3 registration trial ("Mercury 2") of Roclatan™ (netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005% — a novel once-daily eye drop being tested for its ability to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Mercury 2, which commenced in March 2016, is a 90-day registration trial with a topline efficacy readout that is expected in the second quarter of 2017.
• Noveome Biotherapeutics, Inc. has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial of ST266 — a novel secretome to treat patients with allergic conjunctivitis. The trial will reportedly assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ST266 ophthalmic drops for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.
• Early stage biotechnology company Exonate has reportedly closed their latest funding round, with the investment to be used to accelerate the development of the company's first therapeutic area of interest — an eye drop for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as an alternative to the current treatment by eye injections.
• Persavita Inc. recently announced it has received a U.S. patent for its flagship natural eye health product, Saffron 2020 — a nutritional supplement that is approved to help maintain general eyesight and to support eye health in aged-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.