Glaukos announced the commercial availability of Epioxa, a new corneal cross-linking therapy for the treatment of keratoconus. The therapy is now available for ordering directly through Glaukos and its specialty pharmaceutical distribution network.
Epioxa is the first FDA-approved topical drug therapy for corneal cross-linking that does not require removal of the corneal epithelium.
Incision-Free Therapy
Epioxa is designed as an incision-free keratoconus care alternative to traditional corneal cross-linking. This topical therapy is catalyzed by enriched oxygen and light, an approach the company says is intended to reduce procedural pain, streamline treatment, and minimize recovery while maintaining clinically meaningful outcomes.
“Epioxa is designed to improve patient comfort and minimize recovery time, representing a game-changing new interventional keratoconus treatment for patients,” says Thomas Burns, Glaukos chairman and CEO. “Our teams have been diligently preparing for this launch and we are excited to bring this innovative therapy to market for patients.”
Patient Support
Alongside the launch, Glaukos introduced EpioxaCareConnect, a patient support program designed to assist individuals throughout the treatment process. The program provides support with benefit investigations, prior authorization requirements, and appeals, as well as access to financial assistance resources.
Each enrolled patient is paired with a Patient Access Liaison (PAL), who offers guidance through insurance processes and treatment logistics. PALs stay engaged after the first treatment to support recovery and coordinate second-eye treatment if needed.
EpioxaCareConnect also includes specialty pharmacy coordination, allowing practices to submit prescriptions directly through the program, along with billing and coding resources such as billing guides, template letters, and payer policy information to support reimbursement.
Additionally, the Epioxa Copay Program provides financial assistance options. Through this program, eligible commercially insured patients are eligible to pay as little as $0 out of pocket for Epioxa. Glaukos offers the Patient Assistance Program for uninsured or underinsured individuals as well. Also, EpioxaCareConnect provides patient-friendly education materials on coverage, insurance processes, and financial assistance options.