AFT Pharmaceuticals’ NovaTears preservative-free eye lubricant and tear film stabliser for the treatment of evaporative dry eye (EDE) is now on the PBS.
Research has shown that EDE is by far the most common type of dry-eye disease (DED), affecting about 86 per cent of DED sufferers (50 per cent experiencing EDE alone and a further 36 per cent experiencing a combination of EDE and aqueous deficiency), the company says.
“NovaTears is a new class of dry-eye therapy based on patented eyesol technology, which can provide relief for EDE sufferers, and fulfil a significant patient need,” pharmacologist and AFT Pharmaceuticals CEO Dr Hartley Atkinson said. “It’s long-lasting and spreads very easily across the eye, providing relief without blurred vision, stinging or burning.”
Being water-free is one of the major benefits of NovaTears, as it means there is no microbial growth possible in the solution and it allows for the delivery of preservative-free drops in a convenient multi-dose bottle, AFT says, adding that the product also has a much smaller droplet size than traditional water-based eye drops, which minimises spill-over.
“Clinical studies of evaporative dry-eye disease and meibomian-gland dysfunction patients have shown significant improvement in objective signs and subjective symptoms after using NovaTears,” Dr Atkinson said. “We are very pleased to see NovaTears listed on the PBS, allowing greater access to EDE sufferers, particularly those who are sensitive to preservatives.”
