Sun Pharma’s Cequa (ciclosporin ophthalmic solution, 0.09%) for the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye is now available in New Zealand.
Demand from clinicians has been building since the drop was approved by Medsafe in early 2023, said Allyson Brown, ophthalmology business manager at Sun Pharma ANZ. “There has been ongoing interest from New Zealand clinicians over the past few years regarding the availability of a ciclosporin eye drop and we are thrilled to be the first to fulfil this unmet need.”
Previously only available via compounding in New Zealand, ciclosporin is a mainstay dry eye treatment in many advanced markets, Brown said. “Cequa has been on the market in Australia since 2023 and is indicated to increase tear production in patients with moderate to severe dry eye where prior use of artificial tears has not been sufficient.”
New Zealand dry eye practitioners have welcomed the launch. Illume Eyecare’s Adele Jefferies said having access to Cequa will be beneficial to several of her patients. “Dry eye disease is multifactorial, so we need multiple tools in our toolbox to help patients, but as inflammation can be a key driver of chronic symptoms and ocular surface damage, having steroid-sparing options like Cequa is going to be really valuable.”
Compared to compounded ciclosporin, or Restasis under Section 29 in shared care with ophthalmology, having a commercially available formulation supported by clinical evidence is a significant step forward, she said. “The nanomicellar formulation is probably the most interesting differentiator versus compounded ciclosporin and older formulations. The technology was specifically designed to improve delivery of ciclosporin through the tear film and onto the ocular surface, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how it positively impacts my patients.”
