Price of Cyclosporin Eye Drops in India
The price of cyclosporin eye drops in India is not specifically documented in the available evidence, but based on comparative pricing data from other countries, it would likely be significantly less expensive than in Western markets where annual treatment costs for oral cyclosporin range from $10,000-$11,000 USD.
Understanding Cyclosporin Eye Drops
- Cyclosporin (also spelled cyclosporine) is a fungus-derived peptide that prevents activation and nuclear translocation of cytoplasmic transcription factors required for T-cell activation and inflammatory cytokine production 1
- It also inhibits mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis, making it effective for treating inflammatory conditions like dry eye syndrome 1
- Topical cyclosporine 0.05% has demonstrated significant improvement in tear production in clinical trials, with a 10-mm increase in Schirmer test results compared to vehicle at 6 months 1
Efficacy in Dry Eye Disease
- Cyclosporine eye drops have shown success rates of 74%, 72%, and 67% in patients with mild, moderate, and severe dry eyes, respectively 1
- The medication is typically well-tolerated, though ocular burning was reported in 17% of patients in clinical trials 1
- After one full year of twice-daily therapy, the dose can be decreased to once daily in some patients without reducing beneficial effects 1
Pricing Considerations
- While specific Indian pricing is not provided in the evidence, pharmaceutical pricing in India is generally lower than in Western markets 1
- In the UK, different formulations of oral cyclosporin varied significantly in price in 2018:
- 60 x 10 mg tablets: £1,275-£1,825
- 30 x 50 mg tablets: £2,560-£3,597
- 30 x 100 mg tablets: £4,159-£10,993 1
- In the US, the annual cost of oral cyclosporin treatment for psoriasis at 5 mg/kg/day was estimated to be $10,021 1
Usage Patterns and Cost Implications
- Real-world utilization patterns show that most patients use less than the FDA-recommended dosage of cyclosporine eye drops 2
- While the recommended use is 2 vials daily (1 drop in each eye twice daily), prescription refill patterns demonstrated that 73% of patients used only 1 tray/month instead of the expected 2 trays 2
- This suggests that actual costs to patients may be lower than anticipated based on recommended dosing 2
Alternative Treatments
- Lifitegrast 5% ophthalmic solution is an alternative FDA-approved treatment for dry eye disease that works through a different mechanism 3
- Vitamin A eye drops (retinyl palmitate) have shown comparable efficacy to cyclosporine 0.05% in treating dry eye syndrome and may be a more cost-effective alternative in some markets 4
Safety Profile
- Long-term studies (1-3 years) have shown that cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion is safe, well-tolerated, and not associated with systemic side effects 5
- In Chinese patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease, twice-daily instillation of 0.05% cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion was effective and well-tolerated over a 3-month period 6
While the exact price in Indian rupees is not specified in the available evidence, patients should consult with local pharmacies or ophthalmologists for current pricing information in India.