Surface Ophthalmics Announces First Patient Dosed in Landmark Head-to-Head Phase II Trial for SURF-100 for Chronic Dry Eye Disease

PLEASANTON, Calif., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Surface Ophthalmics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for ocular diseases, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase II clinical trial for its investigational product SURF-100 (mycophenolate sodium and betamethasone sodium phosphate in Klarity^® vehicle) for the treatment of chronic dry eye disease.  

SURF-100 utilizes a new and differentiated mechanism of action by combining mycophenolate sodium and betamethasone sodium phosphate, which are known to have synergistic therapeutic effects, in the patented Klarity diluent. This combination is designed to increase residence time, patient comfort and promote ocular healing in a non-blurring formulation. The landmark clinical trial will directly compare SURF-100 with the current leading treatments for dry eye disease, lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5% (marketed as Xiidra^®) and cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (marketed as Restasis^®). The trial will enroll about 300 patients with a primary endpoint of statistically significant Symptom Improvement between various study arms based on the University of North Carolina Dry Eye Management Scale at Day 84.

Kamran Hosseini, MD, PhD, President and CEO, Surface Ophthalmics, said "With the first patient enrolled, we're excited to be initiating this bold trial which is not only the first head-to-head trial in chronic dry eye, but also will be the most expansive Phase II trial initiated to-date including the greatest number of arms with multiple active investigational arms at different strengths. By having SURF-100 go head-to-head with the leading marketed therapies, we hope to demonstrate clear advantages in both efficacy and, perhaps even more importantly, patient comfort and tolerability. We want to provide patients with the answers they need to find the best treatment option for their dry eye disease."

"I'm thrilled to be involved in this trial – the first of its kind in dry eye disease. Current therapies for chronic dry eye disease face challenges in patient comfort and tolerability – an area where we hope to be able to demonstrate significant improvement," stated Edward Holland, MD, Director, Cornea Services/Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Cincinnati Eye Institute/University of Cincinnati and lead investigator for the SURF-100 clinical trial.

"We continue to deliver on our key clinical milestones as we work to advance three unique clinical programs. Last week we announced positive top-line results from our Phase II trial for SURF-201 for the treatment of pain and inflammation following ocular surgery. SURF-100 is the first treatment to utilize betamethasone in dry eye disease in the United States, and now the first patient enrolled in a landmark dry eye study," said Hosseini. "We're excited to see early success in our strategy of using fundamental building blocks to create effective, safe and well-tolerated ocular treatments for patients."

ABOUT OUR CLINCIAL PROGRAMS

Surface Ophthalmics is advancing three clinical programs: one in chronic dry eye disease (SURF-100), one in episodic dry eye disease (SURF-200), and one in pain and inflammation following ocular surgery (SURF-201). These programs utilize Klarity^® as the delivery vehicle, which has a proven track record of protecting and rehabilitating the ocular surface.

In only two years, Surface has filed three unique INDs, now moved two programs (SURF-201 and SURF-100) into Phase II clinical studies, and is preparing for an additional Phase II program in the coming month. 

ABOUT KLARITY^®

The patented Klarity^® delivery vehicle is used across Surface Ophthalmics' three current clinical programs. Developed by Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, inventor of Optisol GS (an advanced corneal preservation solution), Klarity is designed to protect and rehabilitate the ocular surface pathology for patients with moderate-to-severe dry eye disease.

ABOUT SURFACE OPHTHALMICS

Surface Ophthalmics, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for ocular diseases. We are striving to solve key patient needs in eye care through leveraging deep expertise, a bold approach, an eye toward efficiency, and clear, differentiated clinical advantages. Our current drug pipeline consists of three proprietary drug candidates, all utilizing Klarity®, a patented delivery vehicle. We are led by an experienced and proven management team and board of directors with over 80 years of ophthalmology related professional experience. For more information: http://surfaceophthalmics.com/.

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SOURCE Surface Ophthalmics, Inc.