Bausch + Lomb, Novaliq announce U.S. FDA filing acceptance for investigational treatment NOV03

NOV03 is an investigational, proprietary, water-free, non-steroidal, single-component preservative-free eye drop. (Image courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Bausch + Lomb Corp. and Novaliq GmbH today announced that the FDA has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) filing for investigational treatment NOV03 (perfluorohexyloctane).

A potential first-in-class eye drop with a novel mechanism of action, NOV03 is an investigational therapy to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). NOV03 has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of June 28, 2023.

Joseph C. Papa, CEO, Bausch + Lomb, pointed out in a news release that with the FDA commencing review of the NDA filing, the company is one step closer to bringing an important new treatment option to the millions of Americans affected by dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction.

“NOV03 is distinct from anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents, and, if approved, would be the first prescription eye drop to address excessive tear evaporation,” Papa said in the statement. “The approval would also mark a significant milestone for Bausch + Lomb, as the company's first FDA approval for a prescription medicine since becoming a publicly traded company earlier this year."

According to the news release, DED is one of the most common ocular surface disorders, with MGD as a major cause of development and progression, affecting approximately nine out of 10 people with DED.^1,2 DED due to MGD is caused by a deficient tear film lipid layer that leads to increased tear evaporation.³ There is currently no approved prescription eye drop in the United States for DED associated with MGD.

“We are thrilled the FDA has accepted our NDA filing for NOV03," Christian Roesky, PhD, CEO, Novaliq, said in a news release. “With only limited treatment options currently available, NOV03 is a promising potential new therapy, specifically designed to alleviate the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction."

The companies also noted in the release that clinical development program for NOV03 includes two Phase 3 studies (GOBI and MOJAVE), both of which demonstrated statistically significant improvement vs. control for both primary and key secondary sign and symptom endpoints as early as day 15 and through day 57. NOV03 was well tolerated in both studies.

NOV03 is an investigational, proprietary, water-free, non-steroidal, single-component preservative-free eye drop.⁴ In 2019, Bausch + Lomb acquired an exclusive license for the commercialization and development of NOV03 in the United States and Canada. Data from the first pivotal Phase 3 trial (GOBI) were presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on April 24, 2022.

Data from the second pivotal Phase 3 trial (MOJAVE) were presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in Denver on May 2, 2022. Results from the pivotal Phase 2 trial (SEECASE) were published in Cornea in September 2021.⁵ The clinical program for NOV03 concluded with the completion of a multi-center, open-label, single-arm, 12-month safety extension trial (KALAHARI).

References

1. Leonardi, A., Modugno, R. L., & Salami, E. (2021). Allergy and Dry Eye Disease. Ocular immunology and inflammation, 29(6), 1168–1176. https://doi.org/10.1080/09273948.2020.1841804.
2. Lemp, M. A., Crews, L. A., Bron, A. J., Foulks, G. N., & Sullivan, B. D. (2012). Distribution of aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye in a clinic-based patient cohort: a retrospective study. Cornea, 31(5), 472–478. https://doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0b013e318225415a
3. Geerling G, Baudouin C, Aragona P, et al. (2017). Emerging strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction: Proceedings of the OCEAN group meeting. The Ocular Surface,15(2): 179-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2017.01.006
4. In December 2019, Bausch + Lomb acquired the rights from Novaliq GmbH to pursue development and commercialization of NOV03 for DED and combination products based on NOV03 in additional ophthalmic indications in the United States and Canada.
5. Tauber J, Wirta DL, Sall K, Majmudar PA, Willen D, Krösser S; SEECASE study group. (2021). A randomized clinical study (SEECASE) to assess efficacy, safety, and tolerability of NOV03 for treatment of dry eye disease. Cornea;40(9):1132-1140. http://doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000002622.