The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) five per cent, a twice-daily eye drop solution indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in adult patients.
Xiidra is the first FDA-approved medicine in ophthalmics to be developed by the biotechnology company Shire. According to the company, Xiidra is the only prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of both signs and symptoms of this condition.
“As Shire’s first FDA-approved medicine in ophthalmics, this significant milestone advances our goal of becoming the global leader in this category, where there are unmet patient needs,” said Dr. Flemming Ornskov, CEO of Shire. “We have a robust ophthalmics pipeline, and we look forward to leveraging Xiidra as our entrée into the space as we continue to develop additional innovative eye care treatment options.
