Kala Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:KALA) has offered an update on its launch plans for EYSUVIS 0.25% (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) in treating short term symptoms and signs of dry eye disease.
Kala preparing to launch EYSUVIS
Todd Bazemore, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, said that the company has continued to make significant progress in its launch plans for EYSUVIS. He said that this will enable EYSUVIS to be a preferable first-line dry eye disease prescription therapy. Bazemore said that the company is almost completing hiring and onboarding its first wave of planned sales representatives ahead of the virtual launch of EYSUVIS in early December. Kala has also formed an EYSUVIS wholesale acquisition costs that will allow it to commence submission of payer contract bids to commercial, pharmacy benefit managers, and Medicare part D plans.
Bazemore added that the company has also expanded its marketing and educational activities included promotion events and data presentations at the 2020 Virtual Annual American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting. The company expects to complete the first EYSUVIS shipment to wholesalers in mid-December with the aim of delivering the treatment to patients and eye care professionals by the end of 2020.
Kala expands sales team ahead of EYSUVIS launch
The company has continued to make significant progress in EYSUVIS launch preparations following the FDA’s approval on October 26, 2020. Kala initiated educational activities at the AAO 2020 meeting held on November 13-15. Edward Holland, Cincinnati Eye Institute’s Cornea Services Director, presented the aggregate data from the company’s clinical studies evaluating EYSUVIS for dry eye disease treatment. Some of the promotional activities during the AAO meeting entailed a virtual booth showing the treatment’s approval and anticipated daily sponsored educational programs and availability in the industry showcase.
Most importantly the company has almost completed the recruitment and onboarding of its expanded sales team averaging around seven years of experience in ophthalmic sales. At launch, the company will have around 90 sales agents which it plans to increase to 125 by next year. Kala has set the Wholesale Acquisition Costs for a 10 ml EYSUVIS bottle at $465.
