Evaluation of Efficacy of 20 µg/ml rhNGF New Formulation (With Anti-oxidant) in Patients With Stage 2 and 3 NK

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients 18 years of age or older.
• Patients with stage 2 (persistent epithelial defect, PED) or stage 3 (corneal ulcer) neurotrophic keratitis (NK).
• PED or corneal ulceration of at least 2 weeks duration refractory to one or more conventional non-surgical treatments for neurotrophic keratitis.
• Evidence of decreased corneal sensitivity (≤ 4 cm using the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer) within the area of the PED or corneal ulcer and outside of the area of the defect in at least one corneal quadrant.
• Best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) score ≤ 75 ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study)letters, (≥ 0.2 LogMAR, ≤ 20/32 Snellen or ≤ 0.625 decimal fraction) in the affected eye(s).
• No objective clinical evidence of improvement in the PED or corneal ulceration within the 2 weeks prior to study enrolment.
• Only patients who satisfy all Informed Consent requirements may be included in the study. The patient and/or his/her legal representative must read, sign and date the Informed Consent document before any study-related procedures are performed. The Informed Consent form signed by patients and/or legal representative must have been approved by the IRB (Institutional Review Board) for the current study.
• Patients must have the ability and willingness to comply with study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

• Any active ocular infection or active ocular inflammation not related to NK in the affected eye(s).
• Any other ocular disease requiring topical ocular treatment during the course of the study treatment period. No topical treatments other than the study medications provided by the study sponsor and allowed by the study protocol can be administered in the affected eye(s) during the course of the study treatment periods.
• Patients with severe vision loss with no potential for visual improvement in the opinion of the investigator as a result of the study treatment.
• Schirmer test without anesthesia ≤3 mm/5 minutes.
• Patients with severe blepharitis and/or severe meibomian gland disease.
• History of any ocular surgery (including laser or refractive surgical procedures) within the three months before study enrolment. (An exception to the preceding statement will be allowed if the ocular surgery is considered to be the cause of the stage 2 or 3 NK). Ocular surgery will not be allowed during the study treatment period and elective ocular surgery procedures should not be planned during the duration of the follow-up period.
• Prior surgical procedure(s) for the treatment of NK with the exception of amniotic membrane transplantation. Patients previously treated with amniotic membrane transplantation may only be enrolled two weeks after the membrane has disappeared within the area of the PED or corneal ulcer or at least six weeks after the date of the amniotic membrane transplantation procedure.
• Patients previously treated with Botox injections used to induce pharmacologic blepharoptosis are eligible for enrolment only if the last injection was given at least 90 days prior to enrolment in the study.
• Anticipated need to use therapeutic contact lenses or contact lens wear for refractive correction during the study treatment period in the eye(s) with NK.
• Anticipated need for punctual occlusion during the study treatment period. Patients with punctual occlusion or punctual plugs inserted prior to the study are eligible for enrolment provided that the punctual occlusion is maintained during the study.
• Evidence of corneal ulceration involving the posterior third of the corneal stroma, corneal melting or perforation.
• Presence or history of any ocular or systemic disorder or condition that might hinder the efficacy of the study treatment or its evaluation, could possibly interfere with the interpretation of study results, or could be judged by the investigator to be incompatible with the study visit schedule or conduct.
• Any need for or anticipated change in the dose of systemic medicati