OC-01 (Varenicline Solution) Nasal Spray for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease Signs and Symptoms in Subjects with Autoimmune Disease: Integrated Data from ONSET-1 and ONSET-2

Abstract

Purpose We evaluate the treatment effect of OC-01 (varenicline solution) nasal spray (VNS) in dry eye disease (DED) subjects from two randomized trials who self-reported autoimmune disease (AID). Patients and Methods Post hoc subgroup analysis of subjects reporting a history of AID from the integrated OC-01 VNS 0.03 or 0.06 mg and vehicle control (VC) treatment groups of the ONSET-1 and ONSET-2 trials. Mean change in Schirmer test with anesthesia score (STS, mm) and Eye Dryness Score (EDS) from baseline to 28 days was compared between OC-01 VNS and VC groups. Consistency of treatment effect in subjects with and without AID was evaluated using treatment–subgroup interaction terms in ANCOVA models for mean changes from baseline STS and EDS, and in a logistic regression model for proportion achieving ≥10 mm STS improvement. Results Of the 891 participants, 31 reported comorbid AID. In all models, the treatment–subgroup interaction terms were not significant (p>0.05), indicating consistency of therapeutic effect of OC-01 VNS in subjects with and without AID. In subjects with AID, the treatment difference for STS was 11.8 mm and −9.3 for EDS and difference for proportion of subjects with ≥10 mm STS improvement was 61.1%. The most common adverse event was sneeze (82–84%), graded as mild by 98% of subjects. Conclusion OC-01 VNS demonstrated consistency in improving both tear production and patient-reported symptoms in subjects with AID, consistent with pivotal ONSET-1 and 2 trial results. Further investigation is warranted, and results may further support use of OC-01 VNS for DED in AID patients.

Nose‐to‐brain delivery of nanotherapeutics: Transport mechanisms and applications

“…Nasal delivery is being increasingly recognized as a route for therapeutic compounds and biopharmaceuticals. It has been used for topical nasal treatments such as antihistamines (Daneman & Prat, 2015) and corticosteroids (Rollema et al, 2022), for systemic delivery of analgesics (Johnson et al, 2016), sedatives, hormones (van Dijck et al, 2011), vaccines, and cardiovascular drugs (Lobaina Mato, 2019) through the nasal mucosa; and for topical administration for dry eye (Schallhorn et al, 2023). In addition, nasal delivery also offers a needleless and noninvasive method of drug delivery into the brain.…”