Everest Medicines licenses breakthrough presbyopia eye drop for Greater China

Everest Medicines has secured the rights to develop and sell LNZ100, a once-daily eye drop for presbyopia, across Greater China. The agreement with Corxel Pharmaceuticals Limited includes an upfront payment and potential milestone payments tied to development progress. Presbyopia, an age-related vision condition, affects nearly all adults in China by their early 50s. LNZ100 uses aceclidine as its active ingredient to create a pinhole effect, improving near vision without inducing myopic shift. In the US, the treatment gained approval in July 2025 and launched commercially three months later. Phase 3 trials in China demonstrated its rapid onset, long-lasting effects, and strong safety profile.

Everest Medicines submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for LNZ100 in China last September. Approval is now expected in early 2027. Yifang Wu, the company’s chairman, highlighted the drug’s commercial potential, calling it a standout treatment for presbyopia. Corxel’s CEO, Sandy Mou, praised Everest’s ability to speed up market access in China. The partnership aims to bring the eye drop to patients as quickly as possible after regulatory clearance.

The deal grants Everest Medicines full control over LNZ100’s development, manufacturing, and sales in Greater China. If approved, the treatment could become a widely used option for millions suffering from age-related vision decline. Regulatory decisions are anticipated within the next two years.