China VIZZ® Drug Deal
Everest Medicines Acquires Greater China Rights for LENZ Therapeutics' VIZZ® (LNZ100)
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Everest Medicines has taken over the rights to develop and sell VIZZ® (LNZ100) in Greater China, replacing Corxel Pharmaceuticals as LENZ Therapeutics' regional partner. GlobeNewswire reported the deal on June 7, 2026, with LENZ set to receive up to $85 million in milestones plus tiered royalties on Chinese sales.
The move sets the stage for a potential Q1 2027 launch of the first aceclidine-based eye drop in China — a market with over 400 million people affected by presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision.
Everest Steps In as Corxel Exits the Picture
Corxel Pharmaceuticals — formerly known as Ji Xing Pharmaceuticals — originally licensed LNZ100 from LENZ back in April 2022. Now, Corxel is selling those rights to Everest Medicines through an Asset Purchase Agreement signed on June 5, 2026. Yahoo Finance noted that Everest will take on all rights and obligations under the original license.
This is the second major asset Everest has picked up from Corxel in under 90 days. In March 2026, Everest also acquired rights to CARDAMYST™, a heart drug, from Corxel. Analysts see this as Corxel stepping back from active commercialization and Everest cherry-picking de-risked, late-stage assets.
VIZZ® Already Approved in the US, China Review Underway
The U.S. FDA approved VIZZ® on July 31, 2025. The drug launched in the United States in October 2025. In China, Corxel submitted the New Drug Application to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in July 2025. GlobeNewswire reported that NMPA approval is anticipated in Q1 2027.
The Chinese NDA is backed by local Phase 3 trial data from the JX07001 study. In that trial, 74% of patients gained three lines or more of near vision within three hours. An impressive 84% saw at least two lines of improvement in just 30 minutes. Those are the numbers Everest will lean on to win NMPA approval.
Why Aceclidine Beats Older Eye Drops
VIZZ® works differently from older presbyopia drops like AbbVie's Vuity, which uses pilocarpine. Pilocarpine stimulates the whole eye muscle, often causing blurred distance vision and headaches. Aceclidine targets only the iris — the colored ring of the eye — to create a "pinhole effect" that sharpens near vision without hurting distance sight.
In China, presbyopia affects nearly 100% of people over age 52. Yahoo Finance reported the total patient pool exceeds 400 million. For a growing middle class that sees reading glasses as a lifestyle drawback, a once-daily eye drop could find a large and willing market.
What LENZ Gets — and What Could Still Go Wrong
For LENZ Therapeutics, the deal preserves a strong upside in China without the operational burden. The San Diego company keeps up to $85 million in milestone payments and earns tiered royalties ranging from mid-single-digit to low double-digit percentages on net sales. GlobeNewswire confirmed these terms in the official press release.
The risk is not clinical — it is commercial. VIZZ® will almost certainly be an out-of-pocket expense in China, not covered by government insurance. Success depends on high consumer adoption, not hospital formularies. The NMPA is also known for strict manufacturing standards on eye drops, so Everest will need to clear a careful regulatory review before any sales begin.
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