NEW YORK and SHANGHAI, China, Aug. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eyenovia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYEN), a clinical stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of microdose array print (MAP™) therapeutics and Arctic Vision, a clinical stage biotech company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmology therapies in China and Asia, today announced that they have entered into an exclusive license agreement for Arctic Vision to develop and commercialize MicroPine for the treatment of progressive myopia and MicroLine for the treatment of presbyopia in Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) and South Korea.
Under the terms of the agreement, Eyenovia may receive up to a total of $45.75 million in upfront payments as well as additional payments, based on various development and regulatory milestones, including the initiation of clinical research and approvals in Greater China and South Korea, and development costs. In addition, Arctic Vision will purchase its supply of MicroPine and MicroLine from Eyenovia or, for such products not supplied by Eyenovia, pay Eyenovia a mid-single digit percentage royalty on net sales of such products, subject to certain adjustments. Eyenovia will pay a mid-double digit percentage of such payments, royalties, or net proceeds of such supply to its Asian licensee pursuant to the arrangement by which Eyenovia reacquired rights to such products in Greater China and South Korea from the original licensee.
“This licensing agreement with Arctic Vision grows our commercial reach to address some of the largest progressive myopia markets in the world,” commented Dr. Sean Ianchulev, Eyenovia’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer. "With the continued validation of our therapeutic approach, the agreement also provides non-dilutive capital to further support our planned launch of MicroStat in the United States next year, as well as the ongoing development of our late stage ophthalmology pipeline including MicroPine for progressive myopia and MicroLine for improvement in near vision.”
Eddy (Hoi Ti) Wu, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Arctic Vision added, “Eyenovia is a leader in the field of novel microdosing technology to treat myopia and presbyopia and we are committed to accelerating the development of MicroPine and MicroLine in Greater China and South Korea. In Asia, it is estimated that up to 50% of children in some regions are myopic, and the figure is increasing. On the other end of the spectrum, many people over the age of 40 are gradually suffering from age related presbyopia, which is currently corrected exclusively with medical devices or surgery-based modalities. We believe MicroPine and MicroLine have the potential to address the needs unmet by conventional eye drops and can play an important role in growing Arctic Vision’s innovative pipeline. Through this new partnership, we believe we can lead the Chinese ophthalmology market into the future.”
About MicroPine for Progressive Myopia
MicroPine (atropine ophthalmic solution) is for progressive myopia, a back-of-the-eye condition commonly known as nearsightedness. Progressive myopia is estimated to affect close to 5 million children in the United States who suffer from uncontrolled axial elongation of the sclera leading to increasing levels of myopia and in some cases major pathologic changes such as retinal atrophy, macular staphylomas, retinal detachment and visual impairment. MicroPine has been developed for comfort and ease-of-use in children. Microdose administration of MicroPine is anticipated to result in low systemic and ocular drug exposure. A recent therapeutic evidence assessment and review by the American Academy of Ophthalmology indicates Level 1 (highest) evidence of efficacy for the role of low dose atropine for progressive myopia (Ophthalmology2017;124:1857-1866; Ophthalmology 2016; 123(2) 391:399).
Feasibility Dose-finding Atropine Studies: ATOM 1; ATOM 2; LAMP (Independent Collaborative Group Trials)
About MicroLine for Presbyopia
MicroLine is a pharmacologic treatment for presbyopia. Presbyopia is the non-preventable, age related hardening of the lens, which causes a gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects and is estimated to affect nearly 113 million Americans. Current treatment options are typically device-based, such as reading glasses and contact lenses. Pilocarpine ophthalmic solution is known to constrict the pupil and improve near-distance vision by creating an extended depth of focus through its small aperture effect. Eyenovia believes that its administration of pilocarpine using the company’s high precision microdosing technology could provide a meaningful improvement in near vision while enhancing tolerability and usability.
About Optejet® and MicroRx Ocular Therapeutics
Eyenovia's Optejet microdose formulation and delivery platform for ocular therapeutics uses high-precision piezo-print technology to deliver 6-8 μL of drug, consistent with the capacity of the tear film of the eye. We believe the volume of ophthalmic solution administered with the Optejet is less than 75% of that delivered using conventional eyedroppers, thus reducing overdosing and exposure to drug and preservatives. Eyenovia's patented microfluidic ejection technology is designed for fast and gentle ocular surface delivery, where solution is dispensed to the ocular surface in approximately 80 milliseconds, beating the ocular blink reflex. Successful use of the Optejet has been demonstrated more than 85% of the time after basic training in a variety of clinical settings compared to 40 – 50% with conventional eyedroppers. Additionally, its smart electronics and mobile e-health technology are designed to track and enhance patient compliance.
About Eyenovia
Eyenovia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYEN) is a clinical stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of microdose array print (MAP™) therapeutics. Eyenovia’s pipeline is currently focused on the late-stage development of microdosed medications for presbyopia, myopia progression and mydriasis. For more Information, please visit www.eyenovia.com.
About Arctic Vision
Arctic Vision is a China-based clinical stage specialty ophthalmology company with a leading portfolio of breakthrough technologies. The company’s vision is to address ophthalmology’s unmet needs through innovative therapies in China, Asia and globally. Arctic Vision is established by top-tier life sciences investors, and led by an elite team of ophthalmic industry veterans with substantial and compelling China and global experiences in R&D and commercialization of eye care products. For more information, please visit www.arcticvision.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions, including estimated market opportunities in the United States for our product candidates. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements due to numerous factors discussed from time to time in documents which we file with the SEC. In addition, such statements could be affected by risks and uncertainties related to, among other things: our ability to timely develop, implement and maintain manufacturing, commercialization and marketing capabilities and strategies for our product candidates; our estimates regarding the potential market opportunity for our product candidates; the potential advantages of our product candidates; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our product candidates; impacts of and uncertainty related to COVID-19; fluctuations in our financial results, particularly given market conditions and the potential economic impact of COVID-19; our need to raise additional money to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months as a going concern; the potential impacts of COVID-19 on our supply chain; risks of our clinical trials, including, but not limited to, the costs, design, initiation and enrollment (which could still be adversely impacted by COVID-19 and resulting social distancing), timing, progress and results of such trials; the timing and our ability to submit applications for, obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; the potential success of our reprioritized pipeline; any cost savings related to our reprioritized pipeline; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; intellectual property risks; changes in legal, regulatory and legislative environments in the markets in which we operate and the impact of these changes on our ability to obtain regulatory approval for our products; and our competitive position. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and except as may be required under applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Eyenovia Contact:
Eyenovia, Inc.
John Gandolfo
Chief Financial Officer
Eyenovia Investor Contact:
The Ruth Group
Alexander Lobo
Phone: 646-536-7037
Eyenovia Media Contact:
Pazanga Health Communications
Diana Soltesz
Phone: 818-618-5634
Arctic Vision Contact:
Ms. Chris Fang
Senior Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
chrisfang@arcticvision.com / communications@arcticvision.com
