Cloudbreak Pharma Shares Data from Survey Highlighting Patient Burden of Pterygium

Cloudbreak Pharma shared new data from a company-supported survey highlighting the patient burden of pterygium at the annual ASCRS meeting in Boston. Pterygium is an ocular disease commonly referred to as 'surfer’s eye,' which can result from exposure to high levels of UV radiation.[1]

The cross-sectional survey revealed 50 percent of respondents reported that pterygium had a considerable impact on their lives, often interfering with their ability to perform daily activities.[2] More than half of patients surveyed also reported that environmental factors such as wind, dry or hot weather, direct sun and pollen exacerbate their symptoms and make it difficult to spend time outdoors. Additionally, patients reported discomfort associated with air conditioning, so spending time indoors can also pose a challenge.[2,3]

Pterygium is a fibro-vascular growth that extends from the conjunctiva to the corneal surface.[4,5] It affects roughly 15 million people in the US and can cause eye redness, irritation, dryness, tearing and foreign body sensation. Only about 1 in 6 patients have been diagnosed.[6] Vision can be impaired in moderate and severe forms of pterygium.

“Pterygium is far more common and has far more impact on patients than implied by the casual name, ‘surfer’s eye.’ Chronic symptoms can impose a daily burden on people grappling with the disease, and unfortunately many people who experience symptoms face challenges receiving a formal diagnosis,” said Abu Abraham, Chief Medical Officer of Cloudbreak Pharma. “Cloudbreak Pharma recognizes the urgent and growing need for new non-surgical treatment options to address the debilitating symptoms associated with pterygium and help delay or avoid the need for surgery for these patients for whom there have been so few options.”

There is no pharmacological treatment approved for pterygium, leading many people living with the ailment to turn to over-the-counter topical treatments that may only provide symptomatic relief. Patients with moderate to severe pterygium may turn to surgical intervention, but excision does not always prevent recurrence, can damage the eye, and may not correct vision, redness, and irritation.[7]

“Patients surveyed reported that physicians may not recognize the breadth of burden pterygium has on their lives,” said Daniel Terveen, MD, ophthalmologist at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “Simple tasks like putting in contact lenses, applying makeup and using a computer or phone are made significantly more difficult, if not impossible, for those with pterygium. As ophthalmologists, we need to listen closely to our patients and coordinate with optometrists to fully understand the impact of pterygium. I am hopeful that research into more effective, non-surgical disease-modifying treatment options can help us address their unmet needs.”

The survey was conducted in volunteers for a multicenter phase 3 clinical trial enrolling people with a known pterygium of ≥1.2 mm and conjunctival hyperemia (measured on a scale of 0-4) in the U.S. Additional findings further illustrate the burdensome challenges faced by people living with pterygium:

• Unpredictability of symptoms and lack of effective pharmacological treatment options are driving patient frustration – Despite trying eye drops for symptomatic relief of pterygium, many respondents reported low satisfaction with available treatment options and said relief was only temporary.
• Patients experience challenges learning about pterygium and building relationships with their care providers. Roughly 80 percent of survey respondents reported such challenges while being diagnosed.
• When patients seek care, they can be diagnosed quickly – Although 50 percent of survey respondents did not seek care for 2+ years from symptom onset, most were diagnosed within one month after an office visit with an HCP.

A phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of Cloudbreak Pharma’s CBT-001, an investigational multi-kinase inhibitor for the treatment of pterygium, showed promising results, highlighting its potential to reduce lesion length and decrease pterygia vascularity for patients with pterygium. The treatment candidate is currently being investigated in phase 3 clinical studies to determine its ability to slow or stop disease progression and potentially eliminate or postpone the need for eye surgery for patients with pterygium. If the treatment is proven to be safe and effective, and ultimately approved by the FDA, it would be a first-in-class treatment option for pterygium and eliminate or postpone the need for eye surgery. More information about this trial is available here: Safety and Efficacy of CBT-001 Ophthalmic Solution in Patients With Pterygium.

References

1. Pterygium (Surfer’s eye): Diagnosis, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22497-pterygium-surfers-eye
2. Gandhi, R., (n.d.). Pterygium Patient Burden Survey Identifies Gaps in Care and the Need for Nonsurgical Treatments. ASCRS Expo Planner. https://ascrs.expoplanner.com/posterfiles/64/pdfs/2642.pdf
3. Ang, B. (2024, January 15). Pterygium / Pterygia. Vision and Eye Health. Retrieved March 26, 2024, from https://www.vision-and-eye-health.com/pterygium/
4. Shahraki, T., Arabi, A., & Feizi, S. (2021, May 31). Pterygium: An update on pathophysiology, clinical features, and Management. Therapeutic advances in ophthalmology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34104871/
5. Chu, W. K., Choi, H. L., Bhat, A. K., & Jhanji, V. (2020, June). Pterygium: New insights. Eye (London, England). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32029918/
6. Abraham A, et al. Poster presented at: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting; April 23-27, 2023, New Orleans, LA, US.
7. Sarkar, P. (2023, August 25). Pterygium. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558907/
8. Anthony, K. (2019, January 8). Pterygium surgery: Procedure, Recovery Time, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/pterygium-surgery
9. Liu, L. (2013, November 19). Geographical prevalence and risk factors for pterygium: A systematic review and meta-analysis. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved March 26, 2024, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24253031/