Animal experiment:

Rats: The ocular pharmacokinetics of Lifitegrast (SAR 1118) are studied in rats after a single topical dose of 14C-SAR 1118 (1 mg/eye; 40 μCi; 15.5 μL). Lifitegrast (SAR 1118) concentration time profiles in plasma and ocular tissues are quantified by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The pharmacologic activity of SAR 1118 eye drops administered thrice daily for 2 months at 1% (0.3 mg/eye/d) and 5% (1.5 mg/eye/d) is assessed in an STZ-induced diabetic rat model by determining retinal leukostasis and blood–retinal barrier breakdown[3]. Mice: The role of LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) is examined either in CD18-/- mice, by intraperitoneal injection of anti-CD11a, or by topical application of lifitegrast. Corneal inflammation is induced by epithelial abrasion and exposure to either tobramycin-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of a 2-mm-diameter punch from a silicone hydrogel contact lens. After 24 h, corneal thickness and haze are examined by confocal microscopy, and neutrophil recruitment to the corneal stroma is detected by immunohistochemistry[2].

Lifitegrast is an integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) antagonist; inhibits Jurkat T cell attachment to ICAM-1 with an IC50 of 2.98 nM.

Lifitegrast is a novel small molecule integrin antagonist that inhibits T cell-mediated inflammation by blocking the binding of two important cell surface proteins (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1), thus lessening overall inflammatory responses. Lifitegrast strongly inhibits Jurkat T cell attachment to ICAM-1 with an IC50 of 2.98 nM[1].

Lifitegrast, has potent anti-inflammatory activity on corneal inflammation induced by antibiotic-killed P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in the presence of a silicone hydrogel lens with the optimal application being a 1% solution applied either 2 or 3 times prior. Topical application of lifitegrast to the corneal surface of healthy adults is safe and well tolerated[2]. SAR 1118 ophthalmic drops administered thrice daily deliver therapeutic levels of SAR 1118 in the retina and can alleviate the retinal complications associated with diabetes[3].

References:
[1]. Perez VL, et al. Lifitegrast, a Novel Integrin Antagonist for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease. Ocul Surf. 2016 Apr;14(2):207-15.
[2]. Sun Y, et al. Corneal inflammation is inhibited by the LFA-1 antagonist, lifitegrast (SAR 1118). J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2013 May;29(4):395-402.
[3]. Rao VR, et al. Delivery of SAR 1118 to the retina via ophthalmic drops and its effectiveness in a rat streptozotocin(STZ) model of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Oct;51(10):5198-204.