Everest Medicines has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with Corxel Pharmaceuticals to acquire the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LNZ100 in Greater China, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The agreement also transfers Corxel’s rights and obligations under its licensing arrangement with LENZ Therapeutics, strengthening Everest’s ophthalmology portfolio and expanding its pipeline of innovative therapies.
LNZ100 is a once-daily prescription eye drop developed for the treatment of presbyopia, an age-related condition that reduces the ability to focus on nearby objects. The therapy contains aceclidine, a small-molecule acetylcholine receptor agonist that constricts the pupil to create a pinhole effect, enhancing near vision while preserving distance vision. Its pupil-selective mechanism is designed to minimize the myopic shift commonly associated with other miotic therapies, making it suitable for a broader patient population.
The treatment received U.S. FDA approval in July 2025 under the brand name VIZZ and was launched commercially later that year. In China, a New Drug Application was submitted in September 2025, with regulatory approval anticipated in the first quarter of 2027. Everest believes the therapy could address a significant unmet need by offering a non-invasive treatment alternative for millions of people living with presbyopia.
Also Read: King Faisal Hospital Ranks 12th Globally in Brand Finance 2026
Yifang Wu, Chairman of Everest Medicines, said “The acquisition reinforces the company’s strategic focus on ophthalmology and adds a differentiated product with strong clinical and commercial potential. He noted that the growing prevalence of presbyopia highlights the need for innovative, non-surgical treatment options and expressed confidence in LNZ100’s ability to expand access to advanced eye care solutions.”
Sandy Mou, Chief Executive Officer of Corxel Pharmaceuticals, stated that “Everest’s commercialization expertise is expected to accelerate patient access to LNZ100 across China. She added that the transaction will enable Corxel to focus exclusively on its cardiometabolic portfolio while supporting the advancement of its global clinical development programs.”
Presbyopia affects near vision as the eye’s lens gradually loses flexibility with age. Studies indicate that symptoms typically emerge in the late 30s and become nearly universal among individuals over 50 in China. Current management options largely rely on reading glasses or surgical procedures, leaving a significant gap for safe, reversible, and non-invasive pharmaceutical treatments.
Clinical findings showed a rapid onset of action, with 84% of participants achieving at least a two-line improvement in near vision and 69% achieving a three-line improvement within 30 minutes of treatment. At three hours post-dose, 88% and 74% of participants maintained two-line and three-line improvements, respectively. Benefits also remained durable, with clinically meaningful vision improvements observed up to 10 hours after administration. LNZ100 was generally well tolerated, with no serious treatment-related adverse events reported.
Everest Medicine’s acquisition of LENZ Therapeutics, LNZ100 marks a strategic expansion into high-growth ophthalmic innovation, reinforcing its commitment to addressing significant unmet medical needs in Greater China.
With strong clinical validation and regulatory momentum, LENZ Therapeutics LNZ100 is said to be well positioned to become a key driver of long-term value creation in the company’s evolving portfolio.
