Efficacy, Safety and Local Tolerability Study of Chloroprocaine 3% Gel Eye Drops in Healthy Volunteers

One hundred and five (105) healthy male and female subjects will be randomised in a 4:1 ratio to receive a single ocular instillation of Chloroprocaine 3% ophthalmic gel or matching placebo (vehicle) (84 subjects will receive chloroprocaine and 21 subjects will receive placebo). The assigned investigational product (3 drops) will be instilled in the right eye of each subject. Administrations will be performed at the clinical centre by the Investigator or his deputy on study day 1. For each administration, the 3 drops will be instilled at a 1 min ± 15 sec interval.

Inclusion criteria

• Informed consent: Signed written informed consent before inclusion in the study
• Sex and age: Healthy men and women, 18 - 55 years inclusive
• Body Mass Index: 18.5-30 kg/m2 inclusive
• Vital signs: Systolic blood pressure 100-139 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure 50-89 mmHg, heart rate 50-90 bpm, measured after 5 min at rest in the sitting position
• Full comprehension: ability to comprehend the full nature and purpose of the study, including possible risks and side effects; ability to co-operate with the Investigator and to comply with the requirements of the entire study
• Contraception and fertility: women of child-bearing potential must be using at least one of the following reliable methods of contraception:

• Hormonal oral, implantable, transdermal, or injectable contraceptives for at least 2 months before the screening visit;
• A non-hormonal intrauterine device or female condom with spermicide or contraceptive sponge with spermicide or diaphragm with spermicide or cervical cap with spermicide for at least 2 months before the screening visit
• A male sexual partner who agrees to use a male condom with spermicide
• A sterile sexual partner Female participants of non-child-bearing potential or in post-menopausal status for at least 1 year will be admitted. For all women, urine pregnancy test result must be negative at screening.

Exclusion criteria

• Physical findings: Clinically significant abnormal physical findings which could interfere with the objectives of the study
• Visual acuity: Best corrected visual acuity < 1/10
• Concomitant medications: Medications, including over the counter medications and herbal remedies, systemic opioids and morphine drugs, topical ocular products with anaesthetic action, systemic analgesic drugs, for 2 weeks before study screening
• Ophthalmic diseases: Clinically significant ocular disease; eye movement disorder (i.e. nystagmus); dacryocystitis and all others pathologies of tears drainage system; corneal, epithelial, stromal or endothelial, residual or evolutionary disease (including corneal ulceration and superficial punctuate keratitis); history of inflammatory ocular disease (iritis, uveitis, herpetic keratitis), history of ocular traumatism, infection or inflammation within the last 3 months or history of any other ocular disease that may affect the outcome of the study or the subject's safety
• Ophthalmic surgery: History of ophthalmic surgical complications (e.g. cystoid macular oedema) in the last 6 months
• Diseases: Significant history of renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, haematological, endocrine, psychiatric or neurological diseases or surgeries that may interfere with the aim of the study
• Allergy: Ascertained or presumptive hypersensitivity to the active principle and/or ingredients of investigational products; history of anaphylaxis to drugs or allergic reactions in general, which the Investigator considers may affect the outcome of the study
• Investigative drug studies: participation in the evaluation of any investigational product for 3 months before this study. The 3-month interval is calculated as the time between the first calendar day of the month that follows the last visit of the previous study and the first day of the present study
• Drug, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco: history of drug, alcohol [greater than 1 drink/day for women and greater than 2 drinks/day for men, defined according to the USDA Dietary Guidelines 2015-2020], caffeine (greater than 5 cups coffee/tea/day) or tobacco abuse (greater than or equal 10 cigarettes/day)
• Alcohol test: positive alcohol breath test at Day 1
• Pregnancy (women only): positive or missing pregnancy test at screening, pregnant or lactating women