Evaluating GlicoPro tear substitute derived from Helix aspersa snail mucus in alleviating severe dry eye disease: a first-in-human study on corneal esthesiometry recovery and ocular pain relief

Background: To evaluate the effects of 10% GlicoPro tear substitute therapy in patients with severe dry eye disease (DED). Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, 30 individuals receiving 10% GlicoPro four times daily for DED were evaluated. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, average non-invasive break-up time (A-NIBUT), non-anesthetic and anesthetic corneal esthesiometry (CE), ocular pain, and the presence of conjunctivochalasis (CCH) were used as clinical endpoints. Treatment compliance using dosing diaries and AEs was assessed. Results: A significant improvement was observed in the clinical endpoints: the Delta OSDI questionnaire was -39.27 +/- 13.22 [-65 to -15] points, Delta A-NIBUT was 3.10 +/- 1.31 [1 to 5] s, Delta non-anesthetic CE was 14 +/- 6.35 [5 to 25] mm, and Delta anesthetic CE was 13 +/- 5.35 [5 to 20] mm (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Ocular pain was reduced in 92.5% of the patients at the end of the follow-up. However, there was no change in the presence of CCH. In addition, all the patients were fully compliant with the dosing and no AEs related to the use of the 10% GlicoPro tear substitute were reported. Conclusions: The 10% GlicoPro tear substitute has the potential to achieve beneficial effects in ocular surface treatments.