New eye drops like OTC Lumify to bolster Valeant 2018 sales
One of the promising product launches mentioned by Valeant in its fourth-quarter conference call last week was Bausch + Lomb's Lumify, which recently was approved to treat red, irritated eyes. "In addition to growing our core businesses, another important area of focus throughout the year has been advancing our new product pipeline," Joseph Papa, chairman and CEO of Valeant, told investors last week. "While the [Valeant] business stabilized in the second half of 2017, the first half of 2018 will have a tougher comp for us, with the prospect of turning the corner to growth later in the year, as our new product launches take hold."
Total annual revenues for the company totaled $8.7 billion, a decrease of 10% as compared to the year-ago period. But looking, forward Valeant has a host of new products coming to market, including Lumify.
In December, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lumify (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.025%) as the first and only over-the-counter eye drop developed with low-dose brimonidine tartrate for the treatment of ocular redness. Brimonidine, which was first approved by the FDA in 1996 for intraocular pressure reduction in glaucoma patients, is available at higher doses in prescription eye care products.
"With [the] approval of Lumify, consumers have a new and unique treatment option to relieve red, irritated eyes," Papa said at the time of the approval. "Lumify is the first and only OTC eye drop with low-dose brimonidine, which has been clinically proven to be safe and effective since its initial approval as a prescription medication in 1996. We expect Lumify will be available for purchase in major retailers in the second quarter of 2018."
Ocular redness is a common condition that can be caused by inflammation of almost any part of the eye. With frequent use, non-selective redness relieving eye drops that constrict blood vessels in the eye can result in users developing a tolerance or loss of effectiveness, as well as rebound redness. In contrast, low-dose brimonidine, the active ingredient in Lumify, selectively constricts veins in the eye, increasing the availability of oxygen to surrounding tissue, thereby reducing the potential risk of these side effects.
"Patients with eye redness and irritation can experience negative social connotations, which may impact daily life," Paul Karpecki, director Corneal Services at Kentucky Eye Institute, said. "Having a drop that reduces redness without the side effects of rebound hyperemia or tachyphylaxis, which may lead to overuse and potential corneal toxicity, is a very exciting option that I look forward to recommending to my patients."
Total annual revenues for the company totaled $8.7 billion, a decrease of 10% as compared to the year-ago period. But looking, forward Valeant has a host of new products coming to market, including Lumify.
In December, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lumify (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.025%) as the first and only over-the-counter eye drop developed with low-dose brimonidine tartrate for the treatment of ocular redness. Brimonidine, which was first approved by the FDA in 1996 for intraocular pressure reduction in glaucoma patients, is available at higher doses in prescription eye care products.
"With [the] approval of Lumify, consumers have a new and unique treatment option to relieve red, irritated eyes," Papa said at the time of the approval. "Lumify is the first and only OTC eye drop with low-dose brimonidine, which has been clinically proven to be safe and effective since its initial approval as a prescription medication in 1996. We expect Lumify will be available for purchase in major retailers in the second quarter of 2018."
Ocular redness is a common condition that can be caused by inflammation of almost any part of the eye. With frequent use, non-selective redness relieving eye drops that constrict blood vessels in the eye can result in users developing a tolerance or loss of effectiveness, as well as rebound redness. In contrast, low-dose brimonidine, the active ingredient in Lumify, selectively constricts veins in the eye, increasing the availability of oxygen to surrounding tissue, thereby reducing the potential risk of these side effects.
"Patients with eye redness and irritation can experience negative social connotations, which may impact daily life," Paul Karpecki, director Corneal Services at Kentucky Eye Institute, said. "Having a drop that reduces redness without the side effects of rebound hyperemia or tachyphylaxis, which may lead to overuse and potential corneal toxicity, is a very exciting option that I look forward to recommending to my patients."