Oxervate: Uses, side effects, cost, and more
Oxervate is a prescription eye drop approved for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis. It is suitable for adults and children ages two years and older.
Oxervate is a brand-name prescription drug that contains the active ingredient cenegermin-bkbj. It is the first biological treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating the root cause of neurotrophic keratitis (NK).
This article provides an overview of Oxervate. It covers how it works, how to use it, what it costs, and what to expect from treatment.
NK is also called neurotrophic keratoconjunctivitis and neurotrophic keratopathy. It is a degenerative corneal disease caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye).
This damage leads to a loss of corneal sensation, which means the eye stops producing tears and healing factors, eventually causing the surface of the eye to break down.
Oxervate is suitable for adults and children ages 2 years and older. They may have developed nerve damage from various causes, including:
If standard treatments like artificial tears or therapeutic contact lenses have not healed a person’s corneal defect
Healthy eyes need a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF) to keep the nerves in the eye alive and working properly. In people with NK, the supply of this protein is low, which damages the eye’s surface and causes sores that do not heal.
Oxervate is a recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) medication made in a laboratory that copies this important protein.
When a person puts Oxervate drops in their eye, it
The treatment regimen for Oxervate is intensive but only lasts for 8 weeks.
The standard dosage is 1 drop in the affected eye, 6 times per day, at 2-hour intervals.
A person must use Oxervate consistently for the treatment to be effective.
If a person misses a dose, they should continue with the next scheduled dose. They should not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Using Oxervate is different from using standard eye drops because it does not contain preservatives and requires special storage and preparation.
The medication comes in a weekly kit containing vials, adapters, and pipettes.
If you use other eye drops, wait at least 15 minutes between using them and Oxervate. Always use Oxervate first if you’re also using eye ointments or gels.
Like all medications, Oxervate can cause side effects.
The most common is eye pain, which was reported in 16% of people in clinical trials. This may be because, as Oxervate regenerates the nerves, sensation in the eye may return and cause pain or discomfort. This pain is often a sign that the nerves are healing.
Most of these side effects are mild to moderate and are limited to the eye area. Because the drug is a human protein that the body breaks down quickly, it does not typically cause side effects in the rest of the body.
In two clinical trials, about 70% of people treated with Oxervate had complete corneal healing after 8 weeks, compared with about 30% of those who received a placebo. While improvement may begin earlier, the studies measured full healing at 8 weeks.
It is important to complete the full 8 weeks of treatment, even if the eye looks better earlier, to ensure the nerves have received maximum support for regeneration.
Oxervate is a specialty medication with a high list price. However, many health insurance plans will cover the cost and financial support is available.
Most commercial insurance plans and Medicare cover Oxervate, but it usually requires prior authorization. This means a doctor must submit paperwork proving a person has NK and have tried other treatments before the insurance agrees to pay.
Oxervate’s manufacturer, Dompé, has created a support program called Dompé CONNECT to Care. They offer a copay program for eligible patients with commercial insurance to reduce out-of-pocket costs. They also help people determine their insurance coverage. A team helps coordinate the shipment of Oxervate by a specialty pharmacy and handle insurance paperwork.
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Maybe. In studies, most patients who improved after 8 weeks remained healed throughout the follow-up period, which lasted about a year. However, the disease can come back in about
Since NK often happens because of ongoing problems like diabetes or nerve damage, the risk of it returning remains.
Cenegermin has helped many people stay better long-term when other treatments have not worked.
Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on eye health.
Oxervate (cenegermin-bkbj) is a treatment for NK that helps heal the damaged nerves in the eye.
The treatment requires using eye drops 6 times per day for 8 weeks. It may cause some eye pain as the nerves regenerate.
Many health insurance plans will cover the cost of Oxervate, and financial assistance programs are available to help with out-of-pocket costs.
Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.