Arrotex to launch first eye drops for presbyopia

LENZ Therapeutics and Arrotex Pharmaceuticals have formalised an exclusive licensing and commercialisation agreement that will see Arrotex register and commercialise the first and only aceclidine-based eye drops for presbyopia in Australia and New Zealand.

Under the agreement, LENZ Therapeutics is set to receive an upfront payment alongside a substantial profit share derived from gross margin on sales of VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution).

Presbyopia is an age-related and progressive decline in near-vision acuity that affects nearly all individuals over 45. The condition arises as the eye’s crystalline lens gradually hardens with age, losing its natural elasticity and ability to change shape. This reduced flexibility limits the lens’s capacity to properly focus light from near objects onto the retina, leading to increasingly blurred close-range vision. In Australia, approximately 700,000 people are estimated to be living with presbyopia.

VIZZ is a once-daily eye drop formulated to restore clear near vision for up to 10 hours. The product is preservative-free, supplied in single-dose vials, and acts primarily as a pupil-selective miotic. It interacts predominantly with the iris with minimal stimulation of the ciliary muscle. By inducing contraction of the iris sphincter muscle, it creates a pinhole effect that increases depth of focus and enhances visual acuity.

Commenting on the agreement, Dennis Bastas, whose group company DBG Health is the parent of Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, said “We are thrilled to bring this innovative therapy to Australia and New Zealand for the treatment of presbyopia to adults frustrated with their near vision. LENZ’s innovative treatment represents a first-to-market, once-daily solution that can provide visual freedom from reading glasses, offering the potential for greater visual independence and improved quality of life.”

Eef Schimmelpennink, President and CEO of LENZ Therapeutics, stated “We are pleased to expand our global commercial partnership network for this innovative therapy into Australia and New Zealand. Arrotex represents our fifth ex-US commercialisation partnership for this product, underscoring our commitment to broadening access to our transformative presbyopia therapy worldwide.”

The development comes amid leadership transition at Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, following the departure of former CEO Matt Zeller after a brief tenure.

The companies anticipate VIZZ could become available in Australia and New Zealand as early as next year, pending regulatory approvals.

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