Abstract
Purpose: :
A conjunctival allergen challenge (CAC) clinical study (NCT00889330) was performed to evaluate safety and efficacy of alcaftadine 0.25% ophthalmic solution, a new ocular antiallergy drug.
Methods: :
This phase III, multi-center, two-arm, placebo-controlled trial enrolled volunteers 10 years of age and greater with a history of allergic conjunctivitis. Subjects were randomized to bilaterally receive either 1 drop of alcaftadine 0.25% ophthalmic solution or vehicle. After 16 hours (Visit 3) and 15 minutes (Visit 4), a CAC was performed and ocular and nasal symptoms of allergy were graded. Clinical and statistical significance were evaluated. The primary endpoints were ocular itching and conjunctival redness. Safety measures included visual acuity and slit lamp biomicroscopy, as well as adverse event reporting. A CAC was performed 16 hours and 15 minutes after instillation of test agent, and ocular and nasal symptoms of allergy were graded.
Results: :
Alcaftadine was effective in the prevention of ocular itching based on clinically and statistically significant differences compared with vehicle. Alcaftadine significantly reduced conjunctival redness, and almost all other allergic signs and symptoms at both 15 minutes and 16 hours after drug administration. Measured at 3 minutes following each allergen challenge, the percentage of patients with minimal itch (defined as mean ocular itch score < 1) in the alcaftadine-treated groups were 97% (Visit 4, onset of action, 15 minutes) and 87 % (Visit 3, duration of action, 16 hours).
Conclusions: :
Therefore, having demonstrated an onset of action within 3 minutes and a duration of action of at least 16 hours for the prevention of ocular itch, alcaftadine 0.25% is a valuable addition to the ocular allergy armamentarium.
Clinical Trial: :
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00889330
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials