As it awaits an FDA approval for its Demodex blepharitis drug, Tarsus is wasting no time in getting awareness of this little-known eye disease out into the public domain.
Demodex blepharitis is in fact a common lid disease that causes eyelid margin inflammation, redness and irritation. The condition is caused by an infestation of Demodex mites, and Tarsus reckons it impacts as many as 25 million Americans.
There are no specific treatments for the condition, with tea tree oil and lid wipes the most used tools, though poor ones at that, Tarsus said in a press release.
The biotech is hoping to change that, however. Just three weeks ago, Tarsus sent off its experimental drug TP-03 (lotilaner ophthalmic solution, 0.25%) to the FDA for review. TP-03 is an eye drop formulation of lotilaner, an anti-parasitic drug used in pets to treat mange.
As it waits for an outcome and possible approval next year, it’s hitting go on the “Look at the Lids” disease awareness campaign, which it hopes will bolster education on the condition and in turn get doctors to be more informed about drug treatments.
The campaign is set up to encourage eye care professionals to screen for Demodex blepharitis in all eye care patients to find and diagnose the disease sooner. “Demodex blepharitis, though extremely common, can masquerade as ocular allergies or dry eye disease since the symptoms are often similar,” said Eric Donnenfeld, M.D., Cornea, Laser Cataract & Refractive Surgeon at OCLI Vision in New York.
“The disease can be missed unless an eye care professional is specifically looking for the presence of collarettes, the sure sign of Demodex blepharitis. Fortunately, identifying collarettes is a simple step achieved by asking a patient to look down during a routine eye exam. I see Demodex in my practice daily, and I am encouraged that there is a campaign that will bring more visibility to this disease and assist other clinicians in their efforts to improve eyelid health.”
The full campaign will be unveiled at the 2022 American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in Chicago and the American Academy of Optometry annual meeting in San Diego, both of which run in October.
“Look at the Lids” features real Demodex blepharitis patients and will include educational tools and resources for eye care professionals, including a new website (www.LookattheLids.com), social media channels, webinars, launch events and interactive activities at the conferences. This includes an interactive exhibit booth at both events featuring a custom photo activation that allows eye care professionals to add their own eyelid photo to a real-time updated video wall.
Eye care professionals are also being asked to share their own Demodex blepharitis stories with the eye care community on social media by using #LookattheLids and following and tagging @lookatthelids on Instagram and Twitter.