Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerability of an Anti-inflammatory/Antibiotic Treatment Following Ocular Cataract Extraction

Cataract is an ophthalmic disease that usually affects the elderly population. Cataract surgery with phaco-emulsification is now the most frequently performed intraocular surgical procedure in the developed world. However, differences in surgical technique impact the severity of surgical trauma and post-operative recovery. The amount of post-operative ocular pain and inflammation plays a significant role in the Patient's perception of the surgical success.

Several ophthalmic products have been studied in the management of post-surgery ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery. Corticosteroids are considered the gold standard for the treatment of ocular inflammation, and their most commonly used route of administration is the topical instillation as eye drops formulation.

After topical administration of Dexamethasone, the concentration in the anterior chamber increases and declines within hours, necessitating frequent daily instillations of eye drops for several weeks. This might be associated with compliance issues, particularly in elderly Patients or in individuals with disabilities. A pharmaceutical formulation allowing for a less frequent administration could therefore be an attractive alternative.

NETILDEX™ eye drops solution, containing Netilmicin Sulfate 4.55 mg (3mg/ml) and Dexamethasone Disodium Phosphate 1.32 mg (1mg/ml), is already available for Patients. A new ophthalmic gel, preservative-free formulation has been developed. This new formulation has been tested in pre-clinical animal studies and in a clinical trial. The new formulation contains Xanthan gum, a high molecular mass polysaccharide approved by the FDA in 1969 for food products. It is used in the product as viscosity enhancer and to give to the product pseudo-plastic characteristics and prolonged ocular retention time.

The purpose of this trial is to show that the administration of a reduced dose of NETILDEX ™ gel 2 times a day starting on the day of cataract extraction by means of phaco-emulsification and administered until 14 days after surgery is sufficient to obtain a non-inferior efficacy of the NETILDEX ™ eye drops solution administered 4 times a day for the same period.

Cataract is an ophthalmic disease that usually affects the elderly population. Therapy is surgical and during the past decades, improvements in surgical techniques and instruments have dramatically increased the number of cataract extractions performed.

With improvements in surgical techniques, Patients' expectations have risen proportionally; however, differences in surgical technique impact the severity of surgical trauma and post-operative recovery. Cataract surgery with phaco-emulsification is now the most frequently performed intraocular surgical procedure in the developed world.

The amount of post-operative ocular pain and inflammation plays a significant role in the Patient's perception of the surgical success.

Ocular inflammation, commonly observed after cataract surgery, is associated with a breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) as a result of surgical trauma-induced prostaglandin production.

Anterior chamber ocular inflammation, clinically assessed as anterior chamber cell counts and flare, is also common following cataract surgery. However, post-surgery inflammation is frequently viewed as an acceptable risk that is largely outweighed by the numerous benefits of cataract surgery.

Advanced surgical techniques including phaco-emulsification, capsulorhexis, small clear corneal incisions, improved visco-elastics and foldable implants have helped to optimize post-surgery results and reduce surgical trauma. However, post-surgery inflammation may still occur and can lead to complications such as corneal edema, intra-ocular pressure (IOP) spikes, posterior capsule opacification and cystoid macular edema (CME).

The management of post-surgery inflammation is essential, both to ensure rapid recovery following surgery, and to prevent or decrease the potential for long-term complications, such as cystoid macular edema.

Several ophthalmic products have been studied for the management of post-surgery ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery. The two main treatments for ocular inflammation are topical corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs.

Bromfenac is a potent inhibitor of the COX-2 enzyme and a highly lipophilic molecule that rapidly penetrates to produce early and sustained drug levels in all ocular tissues. Studies have shown that Bromfenac ophthalmic solution has equivalent efficacy to the other topical NSAIDs in reducing post-operative inflammation and controlling pain.

In order to decrease both intra-surgical and post-operative inflammation, it is now becoming commonplace to extend ophthalmic NSAID dosing to pre-operative use as well to reduce inflammation and minimize the risk of post-surgery complications in particular to prevent post-surgery cystoid macular edema.

Corticosteroids are considered the gold standard for the treatment of ocular inflammation, they are routinely used to control post-surgery ocular inflammation. The most commonly used route of administration of corticosteroid agents is the topical instillation as eye drops formulation. Steroids can be used as an additional prophylactic treatment in high-risk cases.

After topical administration of Dexamethasone, the concentration in the anterior chamber increases and declines within hours, necessitating frequent daily instillations of eye drops for several weeks. This might be associated with compliance issues, particularly in elderly Patients or in individuals with disabilities. A pharmaceutical formulation allowing for a less frequent administration could therefore be an attractive alternative.

Increase in intra-ocular pressure (IOP) is a concern after the use of corticosteroids, irrespective of the route of administration. Repeated use of topical steroids has been shown to induce reversible elevations in IOP, especially in eyes with glaucoma.

Although most of the Patients develop an increase in IOP after 3-6 weeks of treatment with topical steroids, some elevation of IOP can be found as early as the first or second week after initiation of topical instillation of steroids.

NETILDEX™ eye drops solution, containing Netilmicin Sulfate 4.55 mg (3mg/ml) and Dexamethasone Disodium Phosphate 1.32 mg (1mg/ml), is already available for Patients. A new ophthalmic gel, preservative-free formulation has been developed. This new formulation has been tested in pre-clinical animal studies and in a clinical trial. The new formulation contains Xanthan gum, a high molecular mass polysaccharide approved by the FDA in 1969 for food products and it is used in the product as viscosity enhancer and to give to the product pseudo-plastic characteristics and prolonged ocular retention time. Its usability in ophthalmic preparations is well known and another products containing Xanthan gum is currently available in the market (Timolol GFS, Falcon Pharmaceuticals, USA).

The penetration in the target tissue of Netilmicin and Dexamethasone contained in NETILDEX ™ eye drops and NETILDEX™ ophthalmic gel has been studied in a pre-clinical study in rabbits, which results suggest that the ophthalmic gel formulation increases the tissue bioavailability of both active principles.

A clinical study has been conducted in 63 healthy volunteers (21 per group) to establish the safety and ocular tolerability of NETILDEX ™ ophthalmic gel, in comparison with placebo and eye drop solution, administered q.i.d. (1 drop) over a period of 14 days . Both formulations were tolerated as placebo. A statistically significant difference between placebo and Dexamethasone/Netilmicin was observed, as expected, for intra-ocular pressure (IOP) values, however in none of the cases the IOP rising was clinically relevant.

The purpose of this trial is to show that the administration of a reduced dose of NETILDEX ™ gel 2 times a day starting on the day of cataract extraction by means of phaco-emulsification and administered until 14 days after surgery is sufficient to obtain a non-inferior efficacy of the NETILDEX ™ eye drops solution administered 4 times a day for the same period.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female Patients
2. Patients aged ≥ 40 years old
3. Patients undergoing cataract extraction surgery through phaco-emulsification and intra-ocular lens implantation
4. Patients with grade 2 or 3 according to LOCS III system for grading age-related cataract
5. Patients with transparent cornea (endothelial count in the limits for age but not lower than 1200 cells/mm2)
6. Patients understanding the nature of the study and providing their informed consent to participation
7. Patients willing and able to attend the visits and procedures foreseen by study protocol
8. Patients with negative Amsler Test at enrolment visit (V1)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with medical history of ocular inflammation diseases, Herpes infections, iritis, uveitis or Sjogren's syndrome
* Patients who have been treated for external ocular infections within a month before the study enrolment (V1)
* Patients with cellularity in the anterior ocular chamber ≥ grade 2 (16-25 cells / field 1x1 mm)
* Patients with flare in the anterior ocular chamber ≥ grade 2 (moderate)
* Patients with at least one of the following concomitant ocular diseases: ocular infections, uveitis, iritis, iridociclitis, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, diabetes, maculopathy, shallow anterior chamber (based on Investigator's judgment)
* Patients with PEX Syndrome (Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome)
* Patients with poor mydriasis, basing on Investigator's judgment
* Patients with intra-ocular pressure \> 24 mmHg
* Patients who have undergone surgery in the eye involved in the cataract extraction within the 12 months before the study enrolment (V1)
* Patients who have received corneal laser treatment in the eye involved in the cataract extraction within the 6 months before the study enrolment (V1)
* Patients with known or suspected allergy or hypersensitivity to ophthalmic preservatives, phenylacetic acid derivatives, aminoglycosides, Bromfenac, other NSAIDs, steroids
* Patients with traumatic cataract condition
* Patients who have been treated or are under treatment with alpha-blocking agents for more than 3 months before the study enrolment (V1)
* Patients who have received treatment with anti-histamines, decongestants, anti-inflammatory steroidal or non-steroidal (NSAID) drugs within the 15 days before the study enrolment (V1). Bromfenac, only, will be allowed for 3 days before cataract surgery
* Patients who are participating or have participated in other clinical studies within the 30 days before the study enrolment (V1)
* Patients receiving any ocular treatment, with the exception of artificial tears
* Female Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding or who wish to become pregnant during the period of the clinical study and for three months later
* Female Patients of childbearing age (less than 24 months after the last menstrual cycle) who do not use adequate contraception \*
* Monocle Patients
* Patients with epiretinal membrane as per OCT test at enrolment visit (V1)

  * Methods at low risk of contraceptive failure (less than 1% per year) when used consistently, including: combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, intravaginal, transdermal), progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, injectable, implantable), some intra-uterine devices, abstinence or vasectomized partner. Contraception should be maintained until treatment discontinuation.