Special Feature
contact lens combined with an
antihistamine. We’ll continue to
progress this pioneering work in
hopes of one day offering a new
solution.
Q. In countries like Canada, what
are the common causes of ocular
allergies?
A. Common causes are quite
consistent across the world. Ocular
allergy can be seasonal or perennial
and occur when people are exposed
to allergens such as tree or grass
pollen, pet dander or dust. Some
of the worst allergy-inducers in
Canada more specifically are
related to trees that shed airborne
pollen, including ash, alder, birch,
cedar, elm, oak and walnut, but
these along with variable weeds
can vary based on the part of the
country you may be in.
included 244 patients and used the
conjunctival allergen challenge
model (Ora-CAC®) as a replicable
measure to assess the efficacy of
the investigational contact lens.
Reduction in ocular itching was
reported as quickly as 15 minutes
after lens insertion and lasted for the
full duration of the study evaluation
period, which was 12 hours. overall) with the majority being
mild and not considered study
related. Additionally, there were
no discontinuations from study
treatment based on any ocular
adverse events.
Secondary endpoints in the
trials evaluated the reduction
in eye redness, but did not
demonstrate a clinically significant
reduction in people wearing the
antihistamine-releasing lenses.
Both the antihistamine-releasing
contact lenses and the control
lenses demonstrated a low rate
ocular adverse events (4.9% A. We are encouraged about the
recent data publication and results
and are continuing to develop the
investigational antihistamine-
releasing contact lens as a potential
new category of contact lenses.
Q. What are the next steps for
the testing/trial stage for this
proposed product?
We continue to progress this
pioneering work in hopes of one day
offering a new solution. OP
Q. What were the highlights
from the latest trials for J&J's
investigational antihistamine-
releasing contact lens?
A. The Phase 3 data published in
Cornea showed both a clinically and
statistically meaningful reduction
in itchy, allergy eyes with the
antihistamine-releasing contact
lenses compared to non-medicated
lenses. These large-scale studies
represent the first time that contact
lens-based technology has shown
the potential to correct vision and
reduce the occurrence of eye itch
from allergies.
The two multi-center, randomized,
placebo-controlled studies
Optical Prism | September 2019 33