Early Adoption and Utilization of Perfluorohexyloctane for Dry Eye Disease in the United States

Abstract

Bridgitte Shen Lee,1 Lia Pizzicato,2 Elizabeth Langford,2 Liucheng Shi,2 Victoria Divino,2 Adam Alexander,3 Abhishek A Nair4 1Vision Optique, Houston, TX, USA; 2Real World Solutions, IQVIA, Falls Church, VA, USA; 3Medical Affairs, Bausch + Lomb Pharmaceuticals. Inc, Bridgewater, NJ, USA; 4Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Bausch + Lomb Pharmaceuticals. Inc, Bridgewater, NJ, USACorrespondence: Abhishek A Nair, Bausch + Lomb Somerset Corporate Center, 400 Somerset Corporate Blvd, Bridgewater, NJ, 08807, USA, Email [email protected]: To characterize early adopters of perfluorohexyloctane (PFHO) and 90-day refill rates after the first prescription, overall and compared to a cohort initiating cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (CsA).Patients and Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years newly initiating PFHO or CsA between September and November 2023 were identified in IQVIA open-source medical and pharmacy claims databases (date of first claim = index date). Demographics, index prescription characteristics, 12-month baseline clinical characteristics, and 90-day refill rates were descriptively compared between cohorts. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to evaluate factors associated with the adjusted odds of 90-day refill of the respective index therapy.Results: The final sample included 7,209 PFHO and 75,871 CsA patients (mean age: 60.6 and 66.6 years; 79.9% and 80.4% female; 67.0% and 39.4% third party payer; respectively). In total, 75.9% of PFHO patients received their prescription through the mail while 92.2% of CsA patients received it through the retail setting. Only 38.5% of PFHO and 33.3% of CsA patients had a diagnosis of dry eye disease (DED) over the 12-month baseline period. Nearly half (46.6%) of PFHO patients used at least one different DED medication over the 12-month baseline compared to 8.1% of CsA patients. Over the 90-day follow-up, most (72.0%) PFHO patients refilled the prescription for their index therapy compared to 37.4% of CsA patients. In the multivariable logistic regression model, PFHO patients had 72% higher likelihood of refilling their index prescription within 90-days compared to CsA patients (adjusted odds ratio: 1.72; 95% confidence interval: 1.60– 1.86).Conclusion: High DED medication use among PFHO patients in the 12-month period prior to treatment initiation suggests that prior medication may not have resolved their DED symptoms. The higher 90-day refill rate for PFHO versus CsA indicates a higher degree of patient satisfaction with this new, first-in-class treatment for DED.Keywords: cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion, prescription refill, administrative claims, evaporative dry eye disease, meibomian gland dysfunction

Keywords

• cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion
• prescription refill
• administrative claims
• evaporative dry eye disease
• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction