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Drugs A–Z

Lifitegrast

Lifitegrast is a prescription medicine (Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 Antagonist). The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.

Type
Prescription only (Rx)
Brand names
Xiidra
Drug class
Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 Antagonist
Taken
Ophthalmic
Label
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, revised August 18, 2025 · full label on DailyMed
Generic
Not yet (tentatively approved) · details

What it is used for

Xiidra ® (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% is a lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) antagonist indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). ( 1 )

Forms and strengths

Ophthalmic solution containing lifitegrast 50 mg/mL (5%). Ophthalmic solution containing lifitegrast 50 mg/mL (5%). ( 3 )

Who should not take it (contraindications)

Xiidra is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to lifitegrast or to any of the other ingredients in the formulation [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)] . Hypersensitivity. ( 4 )

Side effects (adverse reactions)

The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hypersensitivity [see Contraindications (4)] The most common adverse reactions (incidence 5%-25%) following the use of Xiidra were instillation-site irritation, dysgeusia, and decreased visual acuity. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at 1-888-669-6682 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In five clinical trials of DED conducted with lifitegrast ophthalmic solution, 1401 patients received at least one dose of lifitegrast (1287 of which received lifitegrast 5%). The majority of patients (84%) had less than or equal to 3 months of treatment exposure. One hundred-seventy patients were exposed to lifitegrast for approximately 12 months. The majority of the treated patients were female (77%). The most common adverse reactions reported in 5%-25% of patients were instillation-site irritation, dysgeusia, and reduced visual acuity. Other adverse reactions reported in 1%-5% of the patients were blurred vision, conjunctival hyperemia, eye irritation, headache, increased lacrimation, eye discharge, eye discomfort, eye pruritus, and sinusitis.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Xiidra. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Rare serious cases of hypersensitivity, including anaphylactic reaction, bronchospasm, respiratory distress, pharyngeal edema, swollen tongue, urticaria, allergic conjunctivitis, dyspnea, angioedema, and allergic dermatitis have been reported. Eye swelling and rash have also been reported [see Contraindications (4)] .

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no available data on Xiidra use in pregnant women to inform any drug-associated risks. Intravenous (IV) administration of lifitegrast to pregnant rats, from premating through gestation day 17, did not produce teratogenicity at clinically relevant systemic exposures. Intravenous administration of lifitegrast to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis produced an increased incidence of omphalocele at the lowest dose tested, 3 mg/kg/day (400-fold the human plasma exposure at the recommended human ophthalmic dose [RHOD], based on the area under the curve [AUC] level). Since human systemic exposure to lifitegrast following ocular administration of Xiidra at the RHOD is low, the applicability of animal findings to the risk of Xiidra use in humans during pregnancy is unclear [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . Data Animal Data Lifitegrast administered daily by IV injection to rats, from premating through gestation day 17, caused an increase in mean pre-implantation loss and an increased incidence of several minor skeletal anomalies at 30 mg/kg/day, representing 5,400-fold the human plasma exposure at the RHOD of Xiidra, based on AUC. No teratogenicity was observed in the rat at 10 mg/kg/day (460-fold the human plasma exposure at the RHOD, based on AUC). In the rabbit, an increased incidence of omphalocele was observed at the lowest dose tested, 3 mg/kg/day (400-fold the human plasma exposure at the RHOD, based on AUC), when administered by IV injection daily from gestation days 7 through 19. A fetal no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was not identified in the rabbit.

8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of lifitegrast in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, systemic exposure to lifitegrast from ocular administration is low [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered, along with the mother’s clinical need for Xiidra and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from Xiidra.

8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients below the age of 17 years have not been established.

8.5 Geriatric Use No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger adult patients.

How it works

Lifitegrast binds to the integrin LFA-1, a cell surface protein found on leukocytes and blocks the interaction of LFA-1 with its cognate ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). ICAM-1 may be overexpressed in corneal and conjunctival tissues in DED. LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction can contribute to the formation of an immunological synapse resulting in T-cell activation and migration to target tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated that lifitegrast may inhibit T-cell adhesion to ICAM-1 in a human T-cell line and may inhibit secretion of inflammatory cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The exact mechanism of action of lifitegrast in DED is not known.

Is there a generic Lifitegrast?

Not yet. The FDA has tentatively approved a generic from 1 company: it meets the FDA standards but cannot be sold yet, usually because of patents or marketing exclusivity on the brand.

Sun Pharm Inds Ltd

Brand-name versions

  • Xiidra Bausch And Lomb Inc, approved 2016

Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.

Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.

Lifitegrast in the news

We have not covered this medicine yet. Latest news

Recalls

No recalls matched to this medicine in FDA enforcement reports from the last 3 years (or older ones still open). Search all recalls

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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID 8589d376-ac10-4ddb-9c53-2e0c8d5675c4.


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Important: this content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice, a prescribing instruction, or a recommendation to act. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before taking any medication.

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