Reduced Posology of an Ophthalmic Hydrogel Containing Dexamethasone/Netilmicin to Prevent and Treat Ocular Inflammation After Cataract Surgery: Efficacy and Tolerability.

Introduction: To demonstrate efficacy and safety of an ophthalmic hydrogel formulation of netilmicin/dexamethasone, containing xanthan gum twice a day (b.i.d.) versus netilmicin/dexamethasone eye drops four times a day (q.i.d) to treat inflammation and prevention of infection after cataract surgery.

Methods: Patients undergoing phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation (IOL) were randomised in two groups: group 1, twice daily (b.i.d.) dexamethasone 0.1%/netilmicin 0.3% (Netildex) ophthalmic gel; group 2, four times daily (q.i.d.) dexamethasone 0.1%/netilmicin 0.3% (Netildex) eye drops. Both treatments were administered for 14 days after surgery. Patients were evaluated before surgery, on the day of surgery and at 1, 7, 15 and 60 postoperative days. The primary efficacy endpoint was evaluation of cellularity and flare in the anterior chamber through slit-lamp biomicroscopy 7 days after surgery. Secondary endpoints included: presence of signs/symptoms of postoperative ocular inflammation and incidence of infection.

Results: One hundred seventy-three patients were randomised and 168 were evaluable. Flare and cellularity were resolved at day 7 in 92.5% of patients and almost completely by day 15. In both intent to treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) populations, the efficacy analysis demonstrated that the gel formulation administered twice a day was non-inferior to the eye drops administered four times a day. For ITT analysis, the lower limit of the 97.5% confidence interval (- 0.0535) was greater than the non-inferiority limit of -0.10. For the PP analysis, the lower limit of the 97.5% confidence interval (- 0.0526) was greater than the non-inferiority limit of - 0.10. The patient's global tolerability and reported symptoms were similar between treatment groups. No microbial load and no safety events were observed.

Conclusions: Efficacy of the gel reduced posology (twice a day) is not inferior to four times a day eye drops. Both treatments were well tolerated and efficacious. The new reduced posology hydrogel formulation may improve patient compliance and quality of life.

Trial Registration: Eudract: 2016-0021138-63; ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT029738880.