Is Lifitegrast (Xiidra) 5% solution available in India?

Lifitegrast 5% Solution Availability in India

Lifitegrast 5% ophthalmic solution (Xiidra) is available in India, as demonstrated by a recent randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial conducted with Indian patients with dry eye disease. 1

Evidence for Availability in India

• A 2025 study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology directly compared lifitegrast 5% with carboxymethylcellulose 0.5% in 370 Indian patients with dry eye disease, confirming its availability and use in the Indian healthcare market 1
• The study demonstrated that lifitegrast 5% was significantly more effective than carboxymethylcellulose 0.5% in improving multiple dry eye parameters in the Indian patient population 1

Clinical Efficacy of Lifitegrast in Dry Eye Disease

• Lifitegrast works by blocking the interaction between lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and its ligand intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), which contributes to T-cell activation and migration to target tissues in dry eye disease 2
• FDA approved lifitegrast 5% ophthalmic solution in 2016 for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease 2
• Published studies show benefit in both signs (corneal and conjunctival staining) and symptoms (eye dryness score and ocular discomfort) over a period of 3 months of using lifitegrast 2

Safety Profile

• The most common side effects reported with lifitegrast 5% include:
  • Ocular adverse events: instillation site irritation (15.2%), instillation site reaction (12.3%), and instillation site pain (9.8%) 3
  • Non-ocular adverse events: dysgeusia (altered taste sensation) (14.5%) 3
• Most adverse events are mild to moderate in severity 3
• Drop comfort with lifitegrast typically improves within 3 minutes of instillation 3
• While the drug appears safe over 12 months of use, long-term effects beyond this period are still unknown 2

Positioning in Treatment Algorithm for Dry Eye Disease

• Lifitegrast 5% is considered as a treatment option for patients with dry eye disease who have had an inadequate response to artificial tears 4
• It can be used as part of a step-wise approach to managing dry eye disease, particularly for moderate to severe cases 2
• In Taiwan, while lifitegrast was not available at the time of guideline publication, it was anticipated to become available in the future, suggesting expanding global availability 2

Practical Considerations for Use

• Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5% is administered as one drop in each eye, twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart 5
• Contact lenses should be removed prior to administration and can be reinserted 15 minutes after administration 5
• The solution from one single-dose container should be used immediately after opening and can be used to dose both eyes 5
• Single-dose containers should be stored in the original foil pouch until ready to use 5

The availability of lifitegrast 5% in India provides an additional treatment option for Indian patients with dry eye disease, particularly those who have not responded adequately to conventional therapies.