Senju launches Avarept ophthalmic suspension 0.3% in Japan, the first TRPV1 antagonist eye drop for dry eye disease, supported by Phase III trial showing significant improvement in DEQS symptom scores.
Written By: Anand Sathappan, BPharm
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced the launch of Avarept® Ophthalmic Suspension 0.3% (motugivatrep) in Japan for the treatment of Dry Eye Disease (DED). The therapy was discovered and licensed from Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and developed by Senju as a novel eye drop targeting transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1).
Avarept previously received manufacturing and marketing approval in Japan on December 22, 2025, prior to this commercial launch.
Avarept is designed to improve both subjective symptoms and objective signs of DED by inhibiting TRPV1, a cation channel activated by stimuli such as heat, inflammatory mediators, osmotic stress, and capsaicin. In patients with dry eye disease, elevated tear osmolarity and inflammatory mediators are believed to sensitize TRPV1 channels, lowering the activation threshold of corneal sensory nerves and contributing to symptoms.
The launch is supported by results from Senju’s pivotal Phase III 3-02 clinical trial, a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in patients with DED. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant improvement in dry eye symptom severity measured using the 15-item Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS), a patient-reported questionnaire assessing symptom severity and impact on daily activities and mental well-being. According to the companies, this represents the first successful clinical development of a TRPV1 antagonist for dry eye disease completed in Japan.
Dry eye disease is a multifactorial condition characterized by tear film instability leading to ocular discomfort, visual disturbance, and ocular surface damage. The prevalence of DED has increased in recent years due to population aging, prolonged contact lens use, and extensive exposure to visual display terminals such as computers and smartphones.
Kozo Ito, Executive Officer and Head of Pharmaceutical Marketing Division at Senju, stated that dry eye disease can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life, and noted that Avarept was developed to address patient-reported symptoms such as ocular dryness and discomfort, with the goal of providing rapid symptom improvement.
Tomokazu Matsusue, Executive Managing Officer and Head of Business Development Division at Mochida, highlighted that the TRPV1 antagonist has been researched for many years since its discovery, and expressed expectations that the newly launched therapy will help improve symptoms in patients with dry eye disease.
Senju stated it will continue providing information to healthcare professionals while advancing treatments that improve patient quality of life. Mochida emphasized its commitment to ongoing drug discovery research and innovation aimed at improving patient outcomes.
References
Launch of “Avarept® Ophthalmic Suspension 0.3%” in Japan, A Novel Treatment of Dry Eye Disease through TRPV1 Inhibition, 06 April 2026, ENG_20260406.pdf
Hori Y, Wada T, Omatsu K; SJP-0132 clinical study investigators. Efficacy and Safety of SJP-0132 in Patients with Dry Eye Disease: A Phase 2b Randomized, Double-Masked, Dose-Finding Study. Am J Ophthalmol. 2025 Dec 4:S0002-9394(25)00634-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41352685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2025.11.036