How to Help Your Patients Find Verkazia in Stock: A Provider's Guide

Prescribing Verkazia (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.1%) is only half the battle. For many VKC patients — particularly those in areas without specialty pharmacies nearby, or those with limited insurance coverage — actually obtaining Verkazia has been a significant and ongoing challenge through 2025 and into 2026. As the prescriber, your guidance on access resources can make a meaningful difference in whether a patient gets their medication.

This guide outlines practical steps your practice can take to improve Verkazia access for patients.

Step 1: Route Prescriptions to Specialty Pharmacies by Default

For most VKC patients, routing the Verkazia prescription directly to a specialty pharmacy — rather than a community retail pharmacy — will yield faster and more reliable fulfillment. Specialty pharmacies are designed to handle high-cost, low-volume medications and maintain dedicated sourcing channels for products like Verkazia.

Consider establishing preferred specialty pharmacy relationships in your area. Key national networks:

Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy — large national network with ophthalmic drug experience

CVS Specialty Pharmacy — handles prior authorizations, patient education, and adherence programs

Optum Specialty Pharmacy — integrated with many insurance networks, including UnitedHealthcare plans

These pharmacies can also ship to patients who lack local access — removing geography as a barrier.

Step 2: Direct Patients to medfinder for Local Pharmacy Search

For patients who prefer their local retail pharmacy, medfinder for providers is a practical tool to recommend. Patients provide their medication, dosage, and zip code, and medfinder calls pharmacies near them to check which ones currently have Verkazia in stock. Results are texted directly to the patient.

This reduces the number of patient calls your office receives asking for pharmacy recommendations, and it reduces frustration for patients who might otherwise give up on their medication search.

Step 3: Proactively Address Prior Authorization

Verkazia often requires prior authorization (PA). Delays in the PA process can prevent patients from accessing their medication even when pharmacy stock is available. To minimize delays:

Submit PA documentation at the point of prescribing, not after the pharmacy attempt is rejected

Document the VKC diagnosis clearly with ICD-10 code H10.10 (Acute atopic conjunctivitis, unspecified eye) or more specific VKC coding as appropriate

Include slit-lamp findings, prior therapy history, and documentation of inadequate response to first-line agents if required by the payer

Some payers require the prescription to be ordered by or in consultation with an ophthalmologist or optometrist — make sure this is documented

Step 4: Enroll Patients in the Harrow Savings Program

Verkazia's retail price of approximately $1,938–$2,159 per 120 vials (approximately a 30-day supply) can be prohibitive. Harrow's savings program dramatically reduces out-of-pocket costs:

Commercially insured patients with coverage: As little as $0 copay

Commercially insured patients without coverage: As little as $79

Medicare Part D patients: As little as $79

For uninsured or low-income patients who do not qualify for the commercial savings program, a patient assistance program (PAP) may be available. Contact Harrow at 1-833-4HARROW for eligibility details.

Step 5: Consider Establishing a Compounding Pharmacy Backup

For practices with high VKC patient volume, establishing a relationship with a compounding pharmacy that can prepare cyclosporine ophthalmic formulations provides a backup option for when commercial Verkazia is unavailable. Communicate clearly to patients that compounded preparations are off-label and not equivalent to FDA-approved Verkazia.

Step 6: Educate Patients on Proper Storage and Use

When Verkazia is hard to obtain, patients may be tempted to use vials multiple times to extend their supply. This is unsafe — each single-dose vial must be discarded after one use due to the absence of preservatives, which creates risk of microbial contamination. Reinforce proper use at every visit.

Summary: A Practical Access Checklist for Your Practice

Default to specialty pharmacy for new Verkazia prescriptions

Share medfinder with patients who are looking for local retail options

Submit prior authorization documentation proactively at time of prescribing

Enroll all eligible patients in the Harrow Savings Program

Have a compounding pharmacy contact ready as a backup for unavoidable supply gaps

Educate patients on proper single-use vial disposal — never reuse vials