Cenegermin

Cenegermin is a human beta-nerve growth factor (beta-ngf)-(1-118)- peptide (non-covalent dimer) produced in escherichia coli. It received European Union Approval in July, 2017 for the treatment of moderate to severe neurotrophic keratitis. Cenegermin received approval from the US FDA a year later in August of 2018 .

Neurotrophic keratitis is a degenerative disease resulting from a loss of corneal sensation . The loss of corneal sensation impairs corneal health causing progressive damage to the top layer of the cornea, including corneal thinning, ulceration, and perforation in severe cases . The prevalence of neurotrophic keratitis has been estimated to be less than five in 10,000 individuals .

While the prevalence of neurotrophic keratitis is low, the impact of this serious condition and its associated sequelae on an individual patient can be debilitating. Many currently available therapeutic options for treating the condition involve surgical interventions - surgeries that are typically only palliative . The approval of cenegermin consequently provides a novel topical treatment that has the potential capacity to offer total corneal healing for many patients who may use the agent .

In particular, cenegermin was granted Priority Review designation, under which the FDA’s goal is to take action on an application within six months of application filing where the agency determines that the drug, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a serious condition . Cenegermin also received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases .