A Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of rhNGF Eye Solution vs Vehicle in Patients With Moderate to Severe Dry Eye

This is a 4 weeks, Phase II, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, parallel group study with 12 weeks of follow-up, designed to perform dose-ranging and to evaluate safety and efficacy of recombinant human Nerve Growth Factor (rhNGF) eye drops solution versus vehicle, in patients with moderate to severe dry eye (DE). Test product is rhNGF 20 μg/ml; reference product is vehicle. Test and reference will be instilled in both eyes according to the following scheme: Group 1: one drop of rhNGF 20 μg/ml is instilled in both eyes three times daily (every 6-8 hours, e.g. 7:00 am, 02:00 pm; 09:00 pm). Group 2: one drop of rhNGF 20 μg/ml is instilled in both eyes two times daily (in the morning and in the evening) plus one drop (40 μL) of vehicle (placebo) is instilled in both eyes once daily in the afternoon. Group 3: one drop (40 μL) of vehicle (placebo) is instilled in both eyes three times daily (every 6-8 hours, e.g. 7:00 am, 02:00 pm; 09:00 pm). Approximate randomization 1:1:1 of 261 patients to rhNGF eye drops solution 20 μg/ml TID (87 patients) or rhNGF eye drops solution 20 μg/ml BID + vehicle eye drop SID (86 patients) or vehicle eye drops solution (88 patients) TID for 4 weeks was applied.