Glaukos Announces FDA Acceptance of NDA Submission for Epioxa™
24 February 2025 - 11:00PM
Business Wire
PDUFA Date Set for October 20, 2025
Glaukos Corporation (NYSE: GKOS), an ophthalmic pharmaceutical
and medical technology company focused on novel therapies for the
treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders and retinal diseases,
today announced it has received the “Day 74” notification from the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledging the
previously submitted New Drug Application (NDA) for Epioxa™
(Epi-on), its next-generation corneal cross-linking iLink therapy
for the treatment of keratoconus, a sight-threatening corneal
disease, is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review.
The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for the
completion of the FDA’s review of the Epioxa NDA is set for October
20, 2025. This date reflects a standard 10-month review period,
which is consistent with the company’s expectations.
“The acceptance of the Epioxa NDA represents another important
step in being able to provide keratoconus patients and the
ophthalmic community with the first FDA-approved, non-invasive
corneal cross-linking drug therapy that does not require removal of
the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the front of the
eye,” said Thomas Burns, Glaukos chairman and chief executive
officer. “We look forward to working closely with the FDA
throughout their review process and continue to believe Epioxa,
which is designed to reduce procedure times, improve patient
comfort and shorten recovery time, represents a potentially
meaningful advancement in the treatment paradigm for patients
suffering from keratoconus.”
The NDA submission includes data from two Phase 3 pivotal trials
of Epioxa, which both successfully achieved the pre-specified
primary efficacy endpoints and demonstrated favorable tolerability
and safety profiles.
Glaukos’ corneal cross-linking iLink therapies use proprietary,
bio-activated drug formulations designed to strengthen corneal
tissue and halt progression of keratoconus. Typically diagnosed in
a patient’s teenage years, keratoconus is a debilitating eye
condition characterized by progressive thinning and weakening of
the cornea. If left untreated, keratoconus can lead to loss of
vision and even blindness and is one of the leading causes of
corneal transplant (penetrating keratoplasty) in the United States.
Approximately 90% of cases of keratoconus are bilateral and as many
as 20% of patients ultimately require a corneal transplant.
Conventional keratoconus treatments such as eyeglasses or contact
lenses address symptoms but Glaukos’ first-generation iLink
therapy, known as Photrexa®, or Epi-off, is the first and only
FDA-approved therapy that has been shown to slow or halt disease
progression. There are more than 300 peer-reviewed publications
supporting the performance and safety of Glaukos’ iLink
therapy.
Epioxa utilizes a proprietary, novel drug formulation designed
to penetrate the epithelial layer of the cornea, a stronger UV-A
irradiation protocol and supplemental oxygen to enhance
cross-linking. If approved, the company anticipates Epioxa would be
the first FDA-approved, non-invasive corneal cross-linking therapy
that does not require removal of the corneal epithelium, the
outermost layer of the front of the eye.
About Glaukos
Glaukos (www.glaukos.com) is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and
medical technology company focused on developing and
commercializing novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma,
corneal disorders and retinal diseases. Glaukos first developed
Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) as an alternative to the
traditional glaucoma treatment paradigm, launching its first MIGS
device commercially in 2012. In 2024, Glaukos commenced commercial
launch activities for iDose® TR, a first-of-its-kind,
long-duration, intracameral procedural pharmaceutical designed to
deliver 24/7 glaucoma drug therapy inside the eye for extended
periods of time. Glaukos also markets the only FDA-approved corneal
cross-linking therapy utilizing a proprietary bio-activated
pharmaceutical for the treatment of keratoconus, a rare corneal
disorder. Glaukos continues to successfully develop and advance a
robust pipeline of novel, dropless platform technologies designed
to meaningfully advance the standard of care and improve outcomes
for patients suffering from chronic eye diseases.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical facts
included in this press release that address activities, events or
developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may
occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Although we
believe that we have a reasonable basis for forward-looking
statements contained herein, we caution you that they are based on
current expectations about future events affecting us and are
subject to risks, uncertainties and factors relating to our
operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to
predict and many of which are beyond our control, that may cause
our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by forward-looking statements in this press release. These
potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the
extent to which we may obtain regulatory approval for Epioxa or
other investigational products, our ability to successfully
commercialize such products, the continued efficacy and safety
profile of our products when commercially marketed as compared to
their pre-approval clinical trial results, and the extent to which
the FDA completes its review of the Epioxa NDA by October 20, 2025,
particularly in view of recent and anticipated actions by the
current administration that could adversely affect staffing levels
and funding for the FDA and as a result, prevent or delay marketing
approvals. Historical, current and forward-looking
sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for
measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and
process that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject
to change in the future. The information included in, and any
issues identified as material for purposes of this document may not
be considered material for Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
reporting purposes. In the context of this disclosure, the term
“material” is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such
term as defined for SEC reporting purposes. These and other risks,
uncertainties and factors related to Glaukos, and our business are
described in detail under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere
in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on November 5,
2024, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2024, which is expected to be filed with the SEC by
March 3, 2025. Our filings with the SEC are available in the
Investor Section of our website at www.glaukos.com or at
www.sec.gov. In addition, information about the risks and benefits
of our products is available on our website at www.glaukos.com. All
forward-looking statements included in this press release are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary
statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements in this press release, which speak only
as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to
update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except
as may be required under applicable securities law.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250224038650/en/
Media Contact: Michele Gray (917) 449-9250
michele@mgraycommunications.com
Investor Contact: Chris Lewis Vice President, Investor Relations
& Corporate Affairs (949) 481-0510 clewis@glaukos.com
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