On this page
Verkazia
cyclosporine · Emulsion
Overview
Active ingredients
Source: NDC Directory| Ingredient | Strength | RxCUI | Monograph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyclosporine | 1 mg/mL | 2572292 | View |
Forms, strengths and routes
Source: NDC DirectoryPharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.
Pharmacologic class
Source: NDC Directory| Class | Type | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Calcineurin Inhibitor Immunosuppressant [EPC] | EPC | All 20 members |
| Calcineurin Inhibitors [MoA] | MoA | All 20 members |
| Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors [MoA] | MoA | All 118 members |
| P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors [MoA] | MoA | All 105 members |
Regulatory status
Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory| Product | Trade name | Form | Strength | Ingredient | Status | TE | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 214965-001 | VERKAZIA | EMULSION | CYCLOSPORINE | Prescription | — | RLD RS |
Therapeutic equivalence
Source: Orange BookCodes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.
Patents and exclusivity
Source: Orange Book| Patent | Expires | Product | Substance | Use code | Submitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11612658 | January 27, 2026 | 001 | No | U-3560 | April 25, 2023 |
| 9220694 | January 27, 2026 | 001 | No | July 15, 2021 | |
| 9956289 | January 27, 2026 | 001 | No | July 15, 2021 | |
| 7973081 | January 27, 2026 | 001 | No | July 15, 2021 | |
| 8524779 | January 27, 2026 | 001 | No | July 15, 2021 | |
| 8298568 | November 3, 2027 | 001 | No | July 15, 2021 | |
| 9132071 | June 2, 2029 | 001 | No | July 15, 2021 |
| Code | Expires | Product |
|---|---|---|
| ODE-358 | June 23, 2028 | 001 |
Approval history
Source: Drugs@FDA| Type | No. | Action | Status | Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original application | 1 | Type 5 - New Formulation or New Manufacturer | Approved | June 23, 2021 | Standard |
Prescribing information
Source: openFDA Drug LabelingReproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20250117). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.
Indications and Usage
openFDA Drug Labeling1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Verkazia ophthalmic emulsion is indicated for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in children and adults. Verkazia ophthalmic emulsion is a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant indicated for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children and adults ( 1 )
Dosage and Administration
openFDA Drug Labeling2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Instill one drop of Verkazia, 4 times daily (morning, noon, afternoon, and evening) in each affected eye ( 2 ) 2.1 General Dosing Information Gently shake the single-dose vial several times to obtain a uniform, white, opaque emulsion before use. Contact lenses should be removed before applying Verkazia and may be reinserted 15 minutes after administration. If a dose is missed, treatment should be continued as normal, at the next scheduled administration. If more than one topical ophthalmic product is being used, administer the eye drops at least 10 minutes apart to avoid diluting products. Administer Verkazia 10 minutes prior to using any eye ointment, gel or other viscous eye drops. Discard the vial immediately after use. 2.2 Recommended Dosage and Dose Administration Instill one drop of Verkazia, 4 times daily (morning, noon, afternoon, and evening) into each affected eye. Treatment can be discontinued after signs and symptoms are resolved and can be reinitiated if there is a recurrence.
2.1 General Dosing Information Gently shake the single-dose vial several times to obtain a uniform, white, opaque emulsion before use. Contact lenses should be removed before applying Verkazia and may be reinserted 15 minutes after administration. If a dose is missed, treatment should be continued as normal, at the next scheduled administration. If more than one topical ophthalmic product is being used, administer the eye drops at least 10 minutes apart to avoid diluting products. Administer Verkazia 10 minutes prior to using any eye ointment, gel or other viscous eye drops. Discard the vial immediately after use.
2.2 Recommended Dosage and Dose Administration Instill one drop of Verkazia, 4 times daily (morning, noon, afternoon, and evening) into each affected eye. Treatment can be discontinued after signs and symptoms are resolved and can be reinitiated if there is a recurrence.
Dosage Forms and Strengths
openFDA Drug Labeling3 DOSAGE FORM AND STRENGTH Ophthalmic emulsion: 0.1% (1 mg/mL) cyclosporine Ophthalmic emulsion: 0.1% (1 mg/mL) cyclosporine ( 3 )
Contraindications
openFDA Drug Labeling4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None None ( 4 )
Warnings and Cautions
openFDA Drug Labeling5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS To avoid the potential for eye injury and contamination, advise patient not to touch the vial tip to the eye or other surfaces ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Potential for Eye Injury and Contamination To avoid the potential for eye injury or contamination, advise patients not to touch the vial tip to the eye or other surfaces.
5.1 Potential for Eye Injury and Contamination To avoid the potential for eye injury or contamination, advise patients not to touch the vial tip to the eye or other surfaces.
Adverse Reactions
openFDA Drug Labeling6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common adverse reactions following the use of Verkazia were eye pain (12%) and eye pruritus (8%) ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Santen at 1-855-7-SANTEN (855-772-6836) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. See 17 for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION and FDA‐approved patient labeling. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Since clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In the VEKTIS study, a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo‐controlled trial, a total of 57 patients received Verkazia dosed four times a day (QID) for 4 months. Forty-two (42) patients received Verkazia in an 8 month extension, safety follow-up of the VEKTIS study. In the NOVATIVE study, a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo‐controlled trial, 39 patients received Verkazia 1 mg/mL dosed QID for one month. A total of 53 patients received Verkazia 1 mg/mL QID during a 3-month safety follow‐up. The majority of the treated patients were male (79%). The most common adverse reactions reported in greater than 5% of patients were eye pain (12%) and eye pruritus (8%) which were usually transitory and occurred during instillation (Table 1). Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 1% of Patients Receiving Verkazia (N=135) Eye Disorders Eye pain a 12% Eye pruritus b 8% Ocular discomfort c 6% Visual acuity reduced 5% Ocular hyperemia 4% Systemic Cough 5% Headache 4% Upper respiratory tract infection 2% a Including eye pain and instillation site pain b Including eye pruritus and instillation site pruritus c Including foreign body sensation and ocular discomfort
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Since clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In the VEKTIS study, a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo‐controlled trial, a total of 57 patients received Verkazia dosed four times a day (QID) for 4 months. Forty-two (42) patients received Verkazia in an 8 month extension, safety follow-up of the VEKTIS study. In the NOVATIVE study, a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo‐controlled trial, 39 patients received Verkazia 1 mg/mL dosed QID for one month. A total of 53 patients received Verkazia 1 mg/mL QID during a 3-month safety follow‐up. The majority of the treated patients were male (79%). The most common adverse reactions reported in greater than 5% of patients were eye pain (12%) and eye pruritus (8%) which were usually transitory and occurred during instillation (Table 1). Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 1% of Patients Receiving Verkazia (N=135) Eye Disorders Eye pain a 12% Eye pruritus b 8% Ocular discomfort c 6% Visual acuity reduced 5% Ocular hyperemia 4% Systemic Cough 5% Headache 4% Upper respiratory tract infection 2% a Including eye pain and instillation site pain b Including eye pruritus and instillation site pruritus c Including foreign body sensation and ocular discomfort
Use in Specific Populations
openFDA Drug Labeling8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Verkazia administration in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk. Oral administration of cyclosporine to pregnant rats or rabbits did not produce teratogenicity at clinically relevant doses [see Data ] . Data Animal Data Oral administration of cyclosporine oral solution (USP) to pregnant rats or rabbits was teratogenic at maternally toxic doses of 30 mg/kg/day in rats and 100 mg/kg/day in rabbits, as indicated by increased pre- and postnatal mortality, reduced fetal weight and skeletal retardations. These doses (normalized to body weight) were approximately 320 and 2150 times higher than the daily maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose (MRHOD) of 0.015 mg/kg/day, respectively. No adverse embryofetal effects were observed in rats or rabbits receiving cyclosporine during organogenesis at oral doses up to 17 mg/kg/day or 30 mg/kg/day, respectively (approximately 185 and 650 times higher than the MRHOD, respectively). An oral dose of 45 mg/kg/day cyclosporine (approximately 485 times higher than MRHOD) administered to rats from Day 15 of pregnancy until Day 21 postpartum produced maternal toxicity and an increase in postnatal mortality in offspring. No adverse effects in mothers or offspring were observed at oral doses of up to 15 mg/kg/day (160 times greater than MRHOD). 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There is no information regarding the presence of cyclosporine in human milk following topical administration or on the effect of Verkazia on the breastfed infants and milk production. Administration of oral cyclosporine to rats during lactation did not produce adverse effects in offspring at clinically relevant doses [see Pregnancy ( 8.1 )] . The development and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Verkazia and any potential adverse effects on the breast-fed child from cyclosporine. 8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential Infertility There are no data on the effects of Verkazia on human fertility. No impairment of fertility has been reported in animals receiving intravenous cyclosporine [ see Impairment of Fertility ( 13.1 ) ] . 8.4 Pediatric Use Verkazia’s safety and effectiveness has been established in patients from 4 through 18 years of age. 8.5 Geriatric Use The safety and effectiveness of Verkazia have not been studied in geriatric patients.
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Verkazia administration in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk. Oral administration of cyclosporine to pregnant rats or rabbits did not produce teratogenicity at clinically relevant doses [see Data ] . Data Animal Data Oral administration of cyclosporine oral solution (USP) to pregnant rats or rabbits was teratogenic at maternally toxic doses of 30 mg/kg/day in rats and 100 mg/kg/day in rabbits, as indicated by increased pre- and postnatal mortality, reduced fetal weight and skeletal retardations. These doses (normalized to body weight) were approximately 320 and 2150 times higher than the daily maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose (MRHOD) of 0.015 mg/kg/day, respectively. No adverse embryofetal effects were observed in rats or rabbits receiving cyclosporine during organogenesis at oral doses up to 17 mg/kg/day or 30 mg/kg/day, respectively (approximately 185 and 650 times higher than the MRHOD, respectively). An oral dose of 45 mg/kg/day cyclosporine (approximately 485 times higher than MRHOD) administered to rats from Day 15 of pregnancy until Day 21 postpartum produced maternal toxicity and an increase in postnatal mortality in offspring. No adverse effects in mothers or offspring were observed at oral doses of up to 15 mg/kg/day (160 times greater than MRHOD).
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There is no information regarding the presence of cyclosporine in human milk following topical administration or on the …
Description
openFDA Drug Labeling11 DESCRIPTION Verkazia (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1% contains a topical calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant. Cyclosporine is a white or almost white powder. Cyclosporine’s chemical name is Cyclo[[( E )-(2 S ,3 R ,4 R )-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(methylamino)-6-octenoyl]-L-2-aminobutyryl- N -methylglycyl- N -methyl-L-leucyl-L-valyl- N -methyl-L-leucyl-L-alanyl-D-alanyl- N -methyl-L-leucyl- N -methyl-L-leucyl- N -methyl-L-valyl] and it has the following structure: Structural Formula Formula: C 62 H 111 N 11 O 12 Mol. Wt.: 1202.61 Verkazia ophthalmic emulsion is a sterile, unpreserved topical emulsion. It appears as a milky-white homogeneous emulsion. It has an osmolality of approximately 265 mOsmol/kg and a pH of 5-7. Each mL of Verkazia ophthalmic emulsion contains: Active: Cyclosporine 1 mg/mL. Inactives: Cetalkonium chloride, Glycerol, Medium-chain triglycerides, Poloxamer 188, Sodium Hydroxide to adjust pH, Tyloxapol and Water for Injection. Structural Formula
How Supplied / Storage and Handling
openFDA Drug Labeling16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING Verkazia (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1% is packaged in low-density polyethylene single-dose vials. Each vial contains 0.3 mL fill; 5 vials are packaged in an aluminum pouch; 24 pouches are packaged in a box of 120 vials. The entire contents of each box of 120 vials must be dispensed intact. 120 Single-Dose Vials 0.3 mL each — NDC 65086-001-12 Storage: Do not freeze Verkazia. Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). After opening the aluminum pouch, the single-dose vial should be kept in the pouch to protect from light and avoid evaporation. Any opened individual single-dose vial with any remaining emulsion should be discarded immediately after use.
Adverse event reports
Source: openFDA FAERSAttributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: CYCLOSPORINE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.
Packaging and NDCs
Source: NDC Directory| Package NDC | Product NDC | Labeler | Description | Marketing start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82667-014-00 | 82667-014 | Harrow Eye, LLC | 5 POUCH in 1 CARTON (82667-014-00) / 5 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE in 1 POUCH / .3 mL in 1 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE | December 1, 2025 |
| 82667-014-01 | 82667-014 | Harrow Eye, LLC | 24 POUCH in 1 CARTON (82667-014-01) / 5 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE in 1 POUCH / .3 mL in 1 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE | December 1, 2025 |
| 65086-001-05 | 65086-001 | Santen Incorporated | 1 POUCH in 1 CARTON (65086-001-05) / 5 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE in 1 POUCH / .3 mL in 1 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE | February 1, 2022 |
| 65086-001-12 | 65086-001 | Santen Incorporated | 24 POUCH in 1 CARTON (65086-001-12) / 5 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE in 1 POUCH / .3 mL in 1 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE | February 1, 2022 |
| 82667-014 | 82667-014 | Harrow Eye, LLC | — | February 1, 2022 |
| 65086-001 | 65086-001 | Santen Incorporated | — | February 1, 2022 |
Sources for this page
| Dataset | Agency | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NDC Directory | FDA | Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages |
| Drugs@FDA | FDA | Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status |
| Orange Book | FDA | Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity |
| Drug Labeling | FDA / NLM | Prescribing information reproduced above |
| FAERS | FDA | Adverse event report counts |
Generated September 25, 2026 · 12 sections on this page.