Avedro Inc., a Boston-based ophthalmic medical device and pharmaceutical company, has received a notification from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that their NDA for riboflavin ophthalmic solution/KXL system is filed and granted priority review status. The priority review status places the application action date (PDUFA) at March 15, 2014.

The proposed indications of treatment of keratoconus and corneal ectasia following refractive surgery are both orphan indications. Keratoconus is a potentially blinding disease, for which limited therapeutic treatment is available in the US. Corneal ectasia is a rare outcome of refractive surgery (such as Lasik) but is a progressive condition that is difficult to manage. Patients with these sight threatening conditions may require corneal transplant surgery. If approved, riboflavin ophthalmic solution/KXL system would be the first FDA approved therapeutic treatment for these orphan indications.

“US ophthalmic surgeons are thrilled that the FDA is considering this with priority review,” said Peter Hersh, MD, Hersh Vision Group, Teaneck, NJ and Avedro Medical Monitor. “If approved, cross-linking could represent an important new treatment option for patients with keratoconus and ectasia.”

“Avedro is already on the forefront of corneal cross-linking science internationally,” said David Muller, PhD, CEO of Avedro. “Now in the US, we look forward to working with FDA through this stage of the review process.”

Orphan-drug designation is granted by the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development to promote the development of new therapies for rare diseases and disorders affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States. If approved, Avedro would receive seven years of commercial exclusivity in the United States.

Avedro is a privately held medical device and pharmaceutical company advancing the science and technology of corneal cross-linking and refractive correction.