Glaukos announced the commercial availability of Epioxa HD/Epioxa, an advancement in corneal cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus. Epioxa is now commercially available for ordering directly from Glaukos or through its specialty pharmaceutical distribution network, the company said in a press release.

According to Glaukos, Epioxa offers an incision-free alternative to traditional corneal cross-linking procedures. The topical therapy, catalyzed by enriched oxygen and light, is designed to reduce the pain associated with epithelium removal, streamline the procedure, and minimize recovery.

With this launch, Glaukos said it plans to increase its investments in patient awareness, education, and access while addressing the longstanding challenges of underdiagnosis and undertreatment that have affected this rare disease patient community. The company said these efforts will be focused on supporting patients across every step of the journey, from awareness to diagnosis through ongoing treatment. 

Some of the key initiatives, the company noted, include streamlined patient access support programs, including a newly formed patient access liaison team, a co-pay assistance program to reduce financial barriers, a patient assistance program for the uninsured, and new awareness and detection campaigns aimed at earlier and more widespread screening for and diagnosis of the disease. 

On March 17, the company announced the launch of EpioxaCareConnect to support patients through the Epioxa cross-linking treatment journey.

“We are delighted to announce that Epioxa is now commercially available, ushering in a new standard-of-care for patients suffering from keratoconus with the first FDA-approved topical drug therapy that does not require removal of the corneal epithelium,” said Thomas Burns, Glaukos chairman and chief executive officer, in the press release. “Epioxa is designed to improve patient comfort and minimize recovery time, representing a game-changing new interventional keratoconus treatment for patients. Our teams have been diligently preparing for this launch and we are excited to bring this innovative therapy to market for patients.”