Mumbai-based Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has launched a novel ophthalmology treatment, CEQUA, in India for patients who have Dry Eye Disease (DED) with inflammation, a commonly occurring condition. CEQUA is the first dry eye treatment available in India that is delivered with nanomicellar (NCELL) technology.

The technology, includes an exclusive encapsulation that surrounds the active ingredient in CEQUA, cyclosporine. It allows the cyclosporine to travel through the layers of the tear film and releases it into the ocular tissues where it is needed the most. Once delivered, CEQUA starts to treat inflammation, the underlying cause of chronic dry eye.

Dr Rohit Shetty, Vice Chairman of Narayana Nethralaya Eye Institute, commented on the launch, “We are seeing increasing cases of Dry Eye Disease in our practice, which may be caused by increased screen time and other lifestyle changes. Dry Eye Disease certainly needs more treatment options. Global clinical trials have shown that CEQUA provides faster results and is comfortable to most of the patients right from the start of treatment. CEQUA is backed by years of clinical experience in the US and other geographies. It is a welcome addition to our treatment toolkit.”

The prevalence of DED in India is higher than the global prevalence and a large regional study pegged India’s prevalence at 32%, of which 90% were affected with moderate/severe DED. In the same study, hours of Visual Display Terminal (VDT) usage (television, smartphones, computers, tablets, laptops) or “screen time” significantly correlated with the severity of DED. Another study has projected that the prevalence of DED is likely to increase to 45% in India’s urban population by 2030.