Dr Eric Donnenfeld Talks Xdemvy Approval, Effect on Patients

Eric Donnenfeld, MD, of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, discussed how treatment for Demodex blepharitis and Demodex mites will change with the recent approval of Xdemvy.

Transcript

How will the approval of Xdemvy change the way that Demodex mites and Demodex blepharitis are treated?

So it's very exciting that Xdemvy, the generic name is lotilaner, was approved by the FDA in late July. This is the first FDA-approved medication for treating Demodex blepharitis.

Demodex blepharitis is one of the most common diseases that we face on an everyday basis in our clinics and is responsible for ocular redness, irritation, many times with itching, and can participate in development of meibomian gland dysfunction. So, for the first time, we have a drug that can treat 1 of the most common diseases we see on a regular basis that impacts the ocular surface, and I feel that Xdemvy will have a profound effect on improving patient's ocular surface as well as improving their eyes and making them appear less red.

How are patients responding now that this treatment is available?

Xdemvy was recently approved, and it's been really a home run with a lot of interest in using Xdemvy for treating Demodex blepharitis. And this just makes sense, because we don't really have treatments that are available for this common disease. Early data shows that patients are responding to this treatment with Xdemvy, and I, personally, have had several patients who've had chronic, recrudescent inflammation, redness, and uncomfortableness in their lids who have responded beautifully to the use of this new medication.

So, it's wonderful that for the first time we have a drug that can actually treat one of the most common diseases we see in our clinic on a daily basis.