Santen Announces Health Canada Approval for Cationorm® Plus to Relieve the Symptoms of Dry Eye and Ocular Allergy

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Santen Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Santen), today announced the approval of Cationorm^® Plus by Health Canada. Cationorm^® Plus is a unique hydrating artificial tear that restores moisture in the eye to provide long-lasting relief for dry eye and ocular allergy symptoms.

Dry eye occurs when there is a problem with the tear film that normally keeps the eyes moist and lubricated.^1,2,3 Symptoms of dry eye include redness, burning, stinging, itching, sensitivity to light, and a feeling like something is in the eye.⁴ It is estimated that about 21% of Canadians have dry eye, or about 6.3 million people.⁵ Ocular allergy involves inflammation of the conjunctiva, and symptoms that can be seasonal or year-round and may include itching, tearing, redness, and pain.^6,7,8 Ocular allergies affect up to 1 in 5 people around the world. Both conditions can impact the quality of life for an individual, interfering with aspects of daily activities and work productivity.^{9,10,11,12,13}

“Millions of Canadians are impacted by the discomfort and potentially lifestyle-limiting symptoms associated with dry eye and ocular allergy. Artificial tears are considered the first-line treatment to relieve these symptoms,” stated Craig Wallace, General Manager of Canada, U.K., Ireland, and South Africa at Santen. “We are pleased that with this approval, doctors and patients in Canada will now benefit from the first artificial tear that uses a positive cationic emulsion to provide improved hydration in the eye. The approval of Cationorm^® Plus is also a significant step forward in our ongoing growth in Canada and throughout North America.”

Cationorm^® Plus is a sterile, preservative-free, artificial tear containing the novel Novasorb^® technology. As the only artificial tear that uses positive cationic emulsion to hold hydration in place, Cationorm^® Plus protects, hydrates and lubricates the eye while supporting the healing of the cornea (the transparent front part of the eye). Cationorm^® Plus is safe for daily use and restores the three layers of the tear film on the eyes to offer relief from eye irritation and discomfort.

For more information and instructions, please consult the product labeling, including packaging and inserts.

About Dry Eye and Ocular Allergy

Dry eye is an ocular condition with symptoms such as redness, burning, stinging, itching, sensitivity to light, and a feeling like something is in the eye.⁴ Globally, dry eye may affect up to half the population. Both men and women can have dry eye, although it tends to affect more women.¹⁴ Those of increased age, wearers of contact lenses, and those who frequently use computer or other digital screens are more likely to experience dry eye.⁴ Dry eye occurs when there is a problem with the tear film that normally keeps the eyes moist and lubricated, leading to inflammation and damage. Either tear fluid is no longer produced in sufficient quantity, the quality of tear fluid has changed or the tear fluid evaporates too much.^1,2,3

Ocular allergy involves inflammation of the conjunctiva, and symptoms that can be seasonal or year-round and may include itching, tearing, redness, and pain. Ocular allergies affect up to 1 in 5 people around the world, and are most common in females.^6,7,8 Factors that may cause someone to experience an ocular allergy include grasses, trees, fungal spore, dust mites, and animal dander.^15,16 Having an ocular allergy increases a person’s risk of developing dry eye.¹⁷

Both conditions can impact the quality of life for an individual, interfering with aspects of daily activities and work productivity. In severe cases, the conditions may even lead to visual damage.^{9,10,11,12,13}

About Santen

As a global specialized company dedicated to eye health, Santen brings a more than 130-year history of scientific knowledge and organizational capabilities to research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical, surgical, and OTC eye care products. Santen is the market leader for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in Japan, and its products now reach patients in more than 60 countries. Santen provides products and services to contribute to the well-being of patients, their loved ones, and consequently to society. For more information, please visit Santen’s websites www.santencanada.ca, www.santenusa.com (North America headquarters) and www.santen.com (Japan headquarters).

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² Wizert A, et al. PLoS ONE 2014;9(3):e92461.
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⁴ Messmer EM. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015;112:71–82.
⁵ Caffery B, Srinivasan S, Reaume CJ, Fischer A, Cappadocia D, Siffel C, Chan CC. Prevalence of dry eye disease in Ontario, Canada: A population-based survey. Ocul Surf. 2019 Jul;17(3):526-531. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2019.02.011. Epub 2019 Feb 27. PMID: 30825521.
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¹³ Verjee MA, et al. Ophthalmol Ther 2020;9:877–888.
¹⁴ Stapleton F, et al. Ocul Surf 2017;15(3):334–365.
¹⁵ Sacchetti M, et al. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2018;32:49–60.
¹⁶ College of Optometrists. Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis (Hay Fever Conjunctivitis); Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis. Available at: https://www.college-optometrists.org/guidance/clinical-management-guidelines/seasonal-allergic-conjunctivitis.html (accessed May 2022).
¹⁷ Villani E, et al. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2018;18:398–403.

Canada Contact
Steve Kelly
Corporate Communications
Santen, Inc.
steven.kelly@santen.com
+1-510-882-6600

Global Contact (Japan)
Corporate Communications
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
communication@santen.com