Harrow will present three abstracts at the ASCRS 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., spotlighting new data for Vevye (cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.1%) in dry eye disease and post-fungal keratoplasty, and a post-hoc analysis for Ilevro (nepafenac 0.3%) focused on reducing clinically significant visual acuity loss associated with cataract surgery in patients with macular edema risk. The Vevye presentations include real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in dry eye disease and an evaluation of cyclosporine 0.1% in a perfluorobutylpentane vehicle as an alternative to corticosteroids following fungal keratoplasty. The Ilevro analysis interrogates nepafenac’s role in preserving vision in a high-risk perioperative subgroup.
Beneath the podium news is a strategic test: can congress-stage evidence move the needle in two of ophthalmology’s most competitive and protocol-driven markets? For Vevye, real-world data and a potential steroid-sparing perioperative role offer a path to differentiate in a class dominated by legacy cyclosporine formulations and increasingly by water-free vehicles. For Ilevro, the question is whether refined outcomes in a defined risk population can justify branded utilization amid heavy generic NSAID competition and the rise of dropless cataract surgery regimens.
The timing matters. Dry eye disease management is being reshaped by vehicles and tolerability as much as by mechanism. With payers often imposing step therapy through generic cyclosporine or older brands, real-world outcomes are emerging as the currency for market access and HCP adoption. A water-free, semifluorinated alkane delivery system positions Vevye within a broader shift toward non-aqueous ophthalmic formulations that promise better bioavailability and reduced instillation discomfort, potentially improving adherence. If Harrow can demonstrate faster onset, superior persistence, or improved patient-reported outcomes in routine practice, it gains leverage in payer negotiations and concrete talking points for HCP education against entrenched competitors in cyclosporine and lifitegrast, as well as evaporative disease options.
The keratoplasty abstract is equally strategic. Corneal surgeons weigh infection control and inflammation with every steroid drop in the postoperative period, particularly after fungal disease, where steroid-related risks can be consequential. Data suggesting a viable cyclosporine-based approach may open a steroid-sparing niche that aligns with safety concerns, while expanding the perioperative footprint for Vevye beyond chronic dry eye. Even if off-label, strong clinical signals can influence surgeon algorithms, guideline discussions, and eventually compendia support, provided Medical Affairs navigates evidence thresholds and education responsibly.
On the cataract front, millions of procedures annually make even small shifts in visual outcomes commercially meaningful, yet cost pressure in ambulatory surgery centers is unrelenting. A targeted benefit for high-risk macular edema patients presents a more defensible story for Ilevro than generalized prophylaxis. If the post-hoc analysis confirms a material reduction in clinically significant visual acuity loss, the brand could find renewed life as a precision perioperative choice, helping payers and surgeons justify branded use where the risk-benefit calculus is most favorable. The hurdle will be translating post-hoc findings into pragmatic protocols amid the drift toward intracameral and “dropless” approaches designed to improve adherence and streamline workflows.
For competitors, the signal is clear: real-world evidence and surgical subpopulation data are becoming the frontline tools to defend and expand ophthalmic brands without new molecules. For payers, the ask will be specific, subgroup-focused, and outcomes-driven. The next six to twelve months will reveal whether podium visibility converts into formulary traction and surgeon habit change—or whether ASC economics, step edits, and entrenched drop alternatives blunt the impact. The sharper strategic question is whether Harrow can parlay these data into a consistent playbook that scales across its portfolio as ophthalmology tilts further toward water-free delivery systems and risk-stratified perioperative care.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
