First drug for neurotrophic keratitis, a rare eye disease, approved by FDA

The first drug, Oxervate (cenegermin), for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis, a rare disease affecting the cornea (the clear layer that covers the colored portion of the front of the eye) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

According to Wiley Chambers, M.D., an ophthalmologist in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research this approval provides a novel topical treatment and a major advance that offers complete corneal healing for many of these patients.

Neurotrophic keratitis is a degenerative disease resulting from a loss of corneal sensation. The loss of corneal sensation impairs corneal health causing progressive damage to the top layer of the cornea, including corneal thinning, ulceration, and perforation in severe cases. The prevalence of neurotrophic keratitis has been estimated to be less than five in 10,000 individuals.

Read more: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm618047.html