LENZ Therapeutics and Théa Partner to Bring First Aceclidine-Based Eye Drop for Presbyopia to Canada

Canada preps for a presbyopia upgrade as LENZ100 edges closer to potential FDA approval.

LENZ Therapeutics (San Diego, USA) and Laboratoires Théa (Clermont-Ferrand, France) have announced an exclusive licensing and commercialization agreement to bring LENZ’s lead product candidate, LNZ100, to presbyopia patients in Canada. 

Under the agreement, Théa will take charge of developing, registering, manufacturing and commercializing LNZ100 for presbyopia in the Canadian market. In return for commercial rights, LENZ will receive over $70 million in potential upfront and milestone payments, along with tiered, double-digit royalties on future sales.

A potential new chapter in presbyopia treatment

LNZ100 is a once-daily, preservative-free ophthalmic drop that represents a new generation of miotic therapies for improving near vision in presbyopia. Unlike older treatments based on pilocarpine, LNZ100 uses aceclidine, a selective muscarinic agonist. 

Its unique mechanism of action constricts the pupil by targeting the iris’ smooth muscle—while sparing the ciliary muscle—allowing for enhanced near vision without inducing a myopic shift or compromising distance vision.

The drug is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of August 8, 2025. If approved, LNZ100 will become the first and only aceclidine-based treatment for presbyopia—a condition affecting more than 1.8 billion people globally¹, according to LENZ Therapeutics. 

READ MORE: FDA Accepts NDA for Presbyopia Eye Drop BRIMOCHOL PF from Tenpoint 

A strategic alliance for global reach

This partnership marks LENZ’s third international commercialization agreement for LNZ100, as the company continues to expand access beyond the United States. Théa will now initiate the Canadian regulatory submission, lead market preparation and provide education for eye care professionals.

“This partnership with LENZ will expand our portfolio with a promising therapy targeting a prevalent condition that affects millions of adults,” said Jean-Frédéric Chibret, president of Théa. “We see strong potential for LNZ100 in Canada and look forward to initiating the registration process and making the treatment available to Canadian healthcare providers and their patients.”

READ MORE: Presbyopia on the Table: What Works, What’s Next

Eef Schimmelpennink, president and CEO of LENZ Therapeutics added: “With its strong position in commercializing eye drops, Théa is uniquely positioned to bring the benefits of LNZ100 to patients in this key market.This agreement represents our third commercialization partnership outside the United States for LNZ100, as we continue to be focused on maximizing patient access to this important therapy worldwide.”

Editor’s Note: See the full press release from LENZ Therapeutics for more information. This content is intended exclusively for healthcare professionals. It is not intended for the general public. Products or therapies discussed may not be registered or approved in all jurisdictions, including Singapore.

Reference 

1. World report on vision. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Available from: https://bit.ly/world-report-on-vision