[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Dry eye and ocular surface agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/dry-eye-and-ocular-surface-agents/) › Cenegermin

# Cenegermin

## Dry eye and ocular surface agents?

Dry eye and ocular surface agents

Eye drops of recombinant human nerve growth factor that help the cornea heal in neurotrophic keratitis, where corneal nerves are damaged.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

Also called: recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF)

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Dry eye and ocular surface agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/dry-eye-and-ocular-surface-agents/)

**Target**
TrkA receptor (nerve growth factor receptor)

**Used for**
Neurotrophic keratitis

**Key effects**
Eye pain · Eye redness or swelling · Increased tearing

**Monitor**
Signs of eye infection

**ATC**
S01XA24

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

◎**TrkA receptor (nerve growth factor receptor)**Cenegermin

ⓘ The figure shows human nerve growth factor bound to part of its TrkA receptor; cenegermin is the same human protein made by recombinant technology.

**Target in 3D:** TrkA receptor (nerve growth factor receptor). PDB structure 1WWW (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/1WWW) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

In neurotrophic keratitis the corneal nerves are damaged, so the cornea loses sensation and the trophic support it needs to repair its surface. Cenegermin is human nerve growth factor given as eye drops. It acts on TrkA receptors in the cornea, supporting epithelial healing and corneal nerves, so persistent defects and ulcers can close.

- Damaged corneal nerves stop supporting the surface
- Cenegermin supplies nerve growth factor
- It activates TrkA receptors in the cornea
- The corneal epithelium heals

## Indications

- Neurotrophic keratitis (neurotrophic keratopathy) [Keratitis and corneal ulcer →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/keratitis-and-corneal-ulcer/)

## Adverse effects

- Eye pain
- Eye redness or swelling
- Increased tearing
- Feeling of something in the eye
- Temporary blurred vision

## Contraindications

- Hypersensitivity to cenegermin or any ingredient

## Key interactions

**Other eye drops**
The prescriber is told about all eye medicines before treatment

## What is monitored

- Healing of the corneal defect at eye examinations
- Signs of eye infection, which are reported

## Administration and safety

- Drops are given several times a day for several weeks, at regular times
- Kept refrigerated; each day's vial is discarded at the end of the day, with a new pipette for each drop
- Contact lenses are removed before use and reinserted only after a short wait

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Information on use in pregnancy is limited; patients are asked to tell their doctor if they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

## Nursing care

- Teach hand hygiene and the drop technique
- Check storage in the refrigerator, not the freezer
- Warn about temporary blurred vision: no driving until it clears
- Report increasing pain, discharge or loss of vision

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Applied as eye drops; acts on the ocular surface

## Memory aid

CENEGERMIN: NGF drops to make the nerve-starved cornea «germinate» again.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What protein is cenegermin?

Recombinant human nerve growth factor (NGF).

## What is neurotrophic keratitis?

A degenerative corneal disease in which damaged corneal nerves leave the surface unable to heal, so defects and ulcers persist.

## Which receptor does nerve growth factor act on?

TrkA, the high-affinity nerve growth factor receptor.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/cenegermin/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 2

- [Lifitegrast](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/lifitegrast/)
- [Ciclosporin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/ciclosporin/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Keratitis and corneal ulcer](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/keratitis-and-corneal-ulcer/)

[← Back to the class: Dry eye and ocular surface agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/dry-eye-and-ocular-surface-agents/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Cenegermin-bkbj Ophthalmic: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a619001.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=S01XA24) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026); [NGF IN COMPLEX WITH DOMAIN 5 OF THE TRKA RECEPTOR](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/1WWW) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026).

## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

---
Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/cenegermin/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/cenegermin/