Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42368179›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in ophthalmology

Therapeutic efficacy of cenegermin in the management of neurotrophic keratitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Zainudheen Faroog, Abdul Rehman Zia Zaidi, Sehar Tejani

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in ophthalmology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Zainudheen FaroogCollege of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Al Takhassousi Al Zahrawi Street, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9213-5919
Abdul Rehman Zia ZaidiDepartment of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sehar TejaniCollege of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Neurotrophic keratitis (NK) is a rare, degenerative disease of the cornea that arises from impaired trigeminal nerve innervation. The condition leads to progressive corneal anesthesia, epithelial breakdown, ulceration, and potential perforation. Cenegermin, a recombinant form of human nerve growth factor, is the first pharmacotherapy approved for this indication and operates through a disease-modifying mechanism that promotes corneal nerve regeneration. Objectives: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of topical cenegermin (20 mcg/mL) compared with vehicle in adults with moderate to severe NK (Mackie classification stage 2 or 3) by quantitatively synthesizing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data sources and methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception through February 2026. Two double-masked, vehicle-controlled RCTs (the REPARO trial and the NGF0214 trial) enrolling 148 adults were included. Data were pooled using random-effects models (DerSimonian-Laird) and reported as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Risk differences (RDs) and the number needed to treat (NNT) were also computed. Certainty of evidence was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Results: Cenegermin substantially increased the probability of complete corneal healing at 8 weeks, with a pooled RR of 1.84 (95% CI 1.34-2.52; Conclusion: Cenegermin is an effective and well-tolerated, disease-modifying therapy for moderate to severe NK. It nearly doubles the likelihood of complete corneal healing and represents an important addition to the therapeutic options available for this debilitating condition. Larger, independently funded trials with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings and to establish its position within the treatment algorithm. Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD420251103148.

Indexed as

cenegermincorneal healingmeta-analysisnerve growth factorneurotrophic keratitisrandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID42368179
PMCPMC13305801

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.