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Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Presents Results of Pioneering Atlas Study at ARVO 2021 Annual Meeting Demonstrating the Functional and Psychosocial Impact of Demodex Blepharitis
Demodex blepharitis is a common ocular condition that may affect up to 25 million Americans Atlas study shows that Demodex blepharitis negatively impacts
About this update from Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Demodex blepharitis is a common ocular condition that may affect up to 25 million Americans Atlas study shows that Demodex blepharitis negatively impacts daily life for 80 percent of patients Tarsus also presents complete efficacy and safety data from Phase 2b Europa trial, positive trial results used as the basis for the Saturn-1 & 2 pivotal trials IRVINE, Calif., May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TARS), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to focus on unmet needs and apply proven science and new technology to revolutionize treatment for patients, starting with eye care, today announced data from its Demodex blepharitis clinical program presented at the virtual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2021 Annual Meeting. Demodex blepharitis is a common ocular disease that may affect as many as 25 million Americans and has both clinical and psychosocial impacts. Characterized by inflammation of the eyelid margin, redness and ocular irritation, Demodex blepharitis is caused by an infestation of Demodex mites. Currently, there is no FDA-approved therapy for the disease. Tarsus’ lead product candidate, TP-03, is a topical ophthalmic formulation of lotilaner, a well-characterized anti-parasitic agent, designed to target and eradicate Demodex mites, and is currently being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 2b/3 Saturn-1 trial. Although highly prevalent, Demodex blepharitis is often overlooked or misdiagnosed and – as a result – patients may struggle with the condition for years. Until now, the psychosocial effects of Demodex blepharitis have been poorly characterized. The Atlas study is the first multi-center observational study to evaluate the functional and psychosocial impact of the disease, along with clinical manifestations, in adult patients. Overall, the study showed that Demodex blepharitis is associated with a significant symptomatic and psychosocial burden, negatively affecting daily life in the majority (80%) of patients with the disease. “The results from the Atlas study are significant because they demonstrate that there are severe functional and psychosocial impacts related to Demodex blepharitis with regard to routine, everyday activities and overall quality of life,” said Elizabeth Yeu, M.D., Chief Medical Advisor for Tarsus. “The study u...