GENEVA – Alcon today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TRYPTYR (acoltremon ophthalmic solution) 0.003%, formerly known as AR-15512, for the treatment of signs and symptoms of Dry Eye Disease (DED). TRYPTYR is a first-in-class TRPM8 receptor agonist (neuromodulator) that stimulates corneal sensory nerves to rapidly increase natural tear production.
DED is a complex, multifactorial condition driven by a deficiency in natural tears, whether due to decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation. Many commonly used DED treatment options have limitations, including slow onset, patient dissatisfaction and poor adherence. Among surveyed dry eye patients, only 13% felt their dry eye was well managed.
“Today marks a tremendous milestone for Alcon as TRYPTYR becomes our first prescription pharmaceutical treatment to be approved by the FDA since becoming an independent, publicly traded eye care company,” said David Endicott, CEO of Alcon. “We look forward to making this new treatment available to millions of patients affected by Dry Eye Disease. We believe TRYPTYR is an exciting new treatment option for a significant number of dry eye patients given its rapid efficacy.”
This approval is supported by two Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating more than 930 patients (randomized 1:1 to TRYPTYR or vehicle) with a history of DED. In COMET-2 and COMET-3, up to four times more TRYPTYR patients experienced at least a 10mm increase in natural tear production at Day 14, compared to vehicle, 42.6% versus 8.2% of patients in COMET-2 and 53.2% versus 14.4% in COMET-3 (both p<0.0001). Consistent results were observed at all timepoints through Day 90. TRYPTYR demonstrated statistically significant natural tear production as early as Day 1.
“Many of my patients continue to face frustrating challenges with dry eye management, and there is a clear need for additional treatment options,” said Dr. Marjan Farid, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine. “TRYPTYR is the first eye drop that stimulates corneal nerves to directly address tear deficiency, a known cause of Dry Eye Disease.”
Studies in animals suggest that acoltremon, the active substance in TRYPTYR, is an agonist of transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) thermoreceptors. TRPM8 thermoreceptor stimulation has been shown to activate trigeminal nerve signaling leading to increased basal tear production. The exact mechanism of action for TRYPTYR in DED is unknown.
TRYPTYR is available in easy-to-use, single dose vials: one drop per eye, two times a day. Alcon expects to launch TRYPTYR in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2025 and anticipates bringing TRYPTYR to other markets in the future.
