LENZ Therapeutics and Lunatus Announce Exclusive Commercialization Partnership for VIZZ™ in the Middle East

Rhea-AI Summary

LENZ Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LENZ) and Lunatus announced an exclusive distribution agreement dated January 5, 2026 for VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44% in the Middle East region.

Under the deal LENZ will receive upfront, regulatory and commercial milestone payments plus a significant share of regional revenue tied to a pre-determined minimum product supply price. Lunatus gains exclusive commercialization rights in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. LENZ noted VIZZ is the first FDA-approved aceclidine eye drop for presbyopia, approved July 2025 and commercially available in the U.S. since September 30, 2025. LENZ called Lunatus its fourth commercialization partner for VIZZ.

Positive

• Exclusive rights across 9 Middle East countries
• Upfront plus regulatory and commercial milestones payable to LENZ
• Revenue-sharing with a predetermined minimum supply price
• FDA approval in July 2025 and U.S. commercial launch on Sept 30, 2025
• Fourth commercialization partner for VIZZ, expanding global footprint

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

+3.00%

1 alert

+3.00% News Effect

+$15M Valuation Impact

$501M Market Cap

2K Volume

On the day this news was published, LENZ gained 3.00%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. This price movement added approximately $15M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $501M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

VIZZ concentration: 1.44% FDA approval timing: July 2025 US availability date: September 30, 2025 +1 more

4 metrics

VIZZ concentration 1.44% Aceclidine ophthalmic solution strength for presbyopia

FDA approval timing July 2025 VIZZ FDA approval date for presbyopia treatment

US availability date September 30, 2025 Commercial availability of VIZZ in the United States

Growth description Double-digit growth Lunatus’s track record in ophthalmology market

Market Reality Check

Price: $14.62 Vol: Volume 527,114 is below t...

low vol

$14.62 Last Close

Volume Volume 527,114 is below the 20-day average of 1,170,104 (relative volume 0.45x). low

Technical Trading at $16.00, well below the $30.78 200-day MA and 68.25% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

Peers show mixed moves: AMLX -4.83%, DNTH -3.48%, TRVI -5.48%, ELVN +0.26%, TRML...

Peers show mixed moves: AMLX -4.83%, DNTH -3.48%, TRVI -5.48%, ELVN +0.26%, TRML flat, suggesting LENZ trading patterns are stock-specific rather than a broad sector shift.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 01 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 01	International NDA filing	Positive	-0.4%	Lotus filed MFDS NDA for VIZZ in South Korea using positive Phase 3 data.
Nov 25	Investor conferences	Positive	+2.8%	Announced multiple December investor conference presentations and webcasts.
Nov 05	Q3 2025 earnings	Negative	-23.5%	Reported Q3 license revenue, higher expenses, and a net loss alongside VIZZ launch.
Oct 29	Earnings preview	Neutral	-0.6%	Scheduled Q3 2025 results call and reiterated focus on VIZZ commercialization.
Sep 30	US launch update	Positive	+3.8%	Announced commercial availability of VIZZ in the U.S. for presbyopia treatment.

Pattern Detected

Recent LENZ news has mostly aligned with price direction, with one notable divergence where positive clinical/regulatory progress in Asia coincided with a slight share decline.

Recent Company History

This announcement extends LENZ’s global commercialization strategy for VIZZ following prior milestones. In July 2025, the drug received FDA approval, with U.S. commercial availability from September 30, 2025. Subsequent updates included a South Korea MFDS NDA based on positive Phase 3 data and Q3 2025 results showing license revenue and ongoing net losses as commercialization spending ramped. Conference participation and licensing deals in Canada and Asia highlight a partnering-led approach that this Middle East agreement continues.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement adds another regional partnership for VIZZ, granting Lunatus exclusive Middle East...

Analysis

This announcement adds another regional partnership for VIZZ, granting Lunatus exclusive Middle East commercialization rights with upfront, milestone, and revenue‑sharing economics for LENZ. It builds on FDA approval in July 2025 and U.S. availability since September 30, 2025, plus earlier ex‑US licensing. Investors may watch how such agreements translate into license revenue, prescription growth, and any updates in regulatory filings, alongside ongoing monitoring of VIZZ’s safety profile and commercialization expenses.

Key Terms

presbyopia, aceclidine, ophthalmic solution, fda-approved, +3 more

7 terms

presbyopia medical

"VIZZTM for the treatment of presbyopia in the Middle East Region."

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on close objects as the lens stiffens with age, causing tasks like reading or using a phone to require holding things farther away or using glasses. It matters to investors because it drives steady demand for corrective products and treatments—such as reading glasses, contact lenses, surgical procedures and emerging drugs—much like an aging population consistently needs new or replacement consumer goods and services.

aceclidine medical

"VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%, the first and only FDA-approved"

Aceclidine is a medication that activates certain receptors in the eye to tighten the pupil and help open fluid drainage channels, which lowers pressure inside the eye and is used to treat glaucoma. Think of it as a tiny valve adjustment that helps fluid flow out more easily. For investors, developments around aceclidine—such as clinical trial results, regulatory approvals, or licensing—can affect the value and prospects of companies working on eye-care treatments.

ophthalmic solution medical

"VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%, the first and only FDA-approved"

An ophthalmic solution is a liquid medicine formulated to be placed in the eye, like eye drops, used to treat conditions such as infections, inflammation, pressure changes, or dry eye. Investors track these products because their approval, safety record, manufacturing quality and patent status determine sales potential and competition—think of it like a packaged household remedy whose shelf life, rules and maker reputation affect its market value.

fda-approved regulatory

"the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based eye drop for the treatment"

FDA-approved means a medical product, drug, device or treatment has passed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s review for safety and effectiveness for a specific use. Think of it like a formal safety and performance seal that allows the product to be marketed for that purpose in the U.S.; for investors, approval reduces regulatory uncertainty, enables sales and reimbursement pathways, and can materially affect a company’s revenue prospects and valuation.

milestone payments financial

"includes revenue sharing in addition to upfront and milestone payments to LENZ"

Milestone payments are predetermined sums a company agrees to pay or receive when specific development, regulatory, or commercial goals are reached in a partnership or license deal. Think of them like progress bonuses: they turn uncertain future outcomes into conditional cash events, so investors track them as potential sources of revenue, value inflection points, and risk—payments only arrive if the agreed milestones are actually achieved.

commercialization rights financial

"Lunatus will retain exclusive commercialization rights for VIZZ for the treatment"

Commercialization rights are the legal permission to bring a product, technology, or drug to market, including making, selling, licensing, or distributing it. For investors, these rights determine who can earn revenue from an asset and under what terms—similar to having the exclusive lease on a storefront—so they affect future sales potential, royalty streams, competitive position, and the value of related investments.

ophthalmology medical

"Lunatus’s established leadership in the ophthalmology market, regional infrastructure"

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that diagnoses, treats and prevents eye diseases and vision problems, ranging from routine exams to surgery. For investors, it matters because advances, approvals or setbacks in eye drugs, surgical tools, diagnostics or implants can change sales, regulatory risk and long-term demand—think of it as the medical ‘repair and upgrade’ market for a vital organ.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Exclusive distribution agreement includes revenue sharing in addition to upfront and milestone payments to LENZ

SAN DIEGO and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LENZ) and Lunatus Marketing & Consulting FZCO (“Lunatus”) today announced an exclusive distribution agreement for Lunatus to register and commercialize VIZZ^TM for the treatment of presbyopia in the Middle East Region. LENZ Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on the commercialization of VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%, the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia. Lunatus is an independent pharmaceutical company specialized in the commercialization of pharmaceutical products in the Middle East.

Under the terms of the agreement, LENZ will receive upfront, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, in addition to a significant share of revenue generated in the region through a pre-determined minimum product supply price. Lunatus will retain exclusive commercialization rights for VIZZ for the treatment of presbyopia in the Middle East region, including United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

“As the commercial launch of VIZZ in the United States continues to build momentum, we are pleased to expand our network of commercial partnerships in key strategic regions outside the United States. Lunatus represents our fourth commercialization partnership for VIZZ, as we remain deeply committed to expanding global access to this transformative presbyopia therapy,” said Eef Schimmelpennink, President and Chief Executive Officer of LENZ Therapeutics. “Lunatus has built an outstanding reputation in the Middle East for high-quality execution, regulatory excellence and successful commercialization of innovative eye-care products. Their capabilities, combined with the growing unmet need for presbyopia solutions in the Middle East region, make this partnership a powerful fit. We look forward to working together to rapidly bring VIZZ to patients across the region.”

“Partnering with LENZ Therapeutics marks an exciting step in expanding access to advanced eye-care solutions in the Middle East region,” said Dr. Lina Kouatly, President & CEO of Lunatus. “VIZZ represents a transformational advancement for patients living with presbyopia, offering the potential for greater visual independence and improved quality of life. With Lunatus’s established leadership in the ophthalmology market, regional infrastructure, and proven track record of delivering sustained double-digit growth in this field, we are confident in ensuring VIZZ’s successful launch and long-term value creation. We look forward to working closely with LENZ to deliver this therapy to patients who can benefit from it.”

In July 2025, LENZ announced FDA approval of VIZZ for the treatment of presbyopia. VIZZ has been commercially available in the United States since September 30, 2025.

About Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the inevitable loss of near vision associated with aging, impacting the daily lives of nearly all people over the age of 45. As people age, the crystalline lens in their eyes gradually hardens and becomes less able to change shape. This loss of elasticity of the lens reduces the ability of the lens to focus incoming light from near objects onto the retina. Adults over 50 years of age lose, on average, 1.5 lines of near vision every six years. Although the progression of presbyopia is gradual, presbyopes often experience an abrupt change in their daily life as the symptoms become more pronounced starting in their mid-40s, when reading glasses or other corrective aids are suddenly necessary to read text or conduct close-up work. Presbyopia is typically self-diagnosed and self-managed with over-the-counter reading glasses, or managed, after evaluation by an ECP, with prescription reading or bifocal glasses or multifocal contact lenses.

About VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%

VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44% is a once-daily eye drop developed to restore clear near vision for up to 10 hours. Aceclidine is the sole active ingredient in VIZZ and provides rapid and durable near vision improvement. VIZZ is preservative-free and provided in single-dose vials. VIZZ is a predominantly pupil selective miotic that interacts with the iris with minimal ciliary muscle stimulation. VIZZ causes contraction of the iris sphincter muscle, resulting in a pinhole effect that extends depth of focus to improve vision. For more information, please visit www.VIZZ.com.

VIZZ Indication and Important Safety Information

INDICATION

VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44% is a prescription eye drop used to treat age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia) in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• Do not use VIZZ if allergic to any of the ingredients.
• To help avoid potential eye injury or contamination of the product, do not allow the vial tip to touch the eye or any surfaces. Discard the opened vial immediately after use.
• Contact lenses should be removed before using VIZZ. After dosing, contact lenses can be reinserted after 10 minutes.
• If using more than one topical eye medication, the medicines should be administered at least 5 minutes apart.
• Temporary dim or dark vision may be experienced after using VIZZ. Do not drive or operate machinery if vision is not clear.
• Seek immediate medical care if sudden onset of flashing lights, floaters, or vision loss is experienced.
  
  

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common reported adverse reactions of participants were instillation site irritation (20%), dim vision (16%), and headache (13%). Adverse reactions reported in >5% of participants were conjunctival hyperemia (8%) and ocular hyperemia (7%). The majority of adverse reactions were mild, transient, and self-resolving.

For additional information, please see the full Prescribing Information available at www.VIZZ.com/full-prescribing-information.pdf.

About LENZ Therapeutics

LENZ Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on the commercialization of VIZZ^TM (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%, the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia, a condition impacting an estimated 1.8 billion people globally and 128 million people in the United States. LENZ is commercializing VIZZ in the United States and continues to establish licensing partnerships internationally to provide access to VIZZ globally. LENZ is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, visit www.VIZZ.com and www.LENZ-tx.com.

About Lunatus
Lunatus is a Dubai-based healthcare and pharmaceutical commercialisation partner serving the Arabian Gulf and broader Middle East. Founded in 2003, to act as the link between international healthcare companies and the expanding markets of the Arabian Gulf and Middle East. Lunatus provides turnkey representation to international healthcare companies, from regulatory submissions and local registration to marketing, sales, logistics and distribution enabling efficient market entry and sustainable commercial growth. Lunatus has partnered with a number of international pharma and healthcare companies, with a proven track record of introducing, building and maintaining profitable brand presence and has received awards as one of the top SMEs in the region.

For more information, visit https://lunatus.com/

Contacts:
Dan Chevallard LENZ Therapeutics IR@LENZ-Tx.com	Mina Ashraf  Vice President – Business Development & Strategy Lunatus mina.ashraf@lunatus.com

FAQ

What did LENZ announce about VIZZ distribution in the Middle East on January 5, 2026?

LENZ announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Lunatus granting Lunatus commercialization rights for VIZZ in nine Middle East countries and providing LENZ upfront, milestone payments and revenue sharing.

Which Middle East countries are covered by Lunatus's exclusive VIZZ rights (LENZ)?

The agreement covers United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

What financial terms will LENZ receive under the Lunatus agreement (LENZ)?

LENZ will receive upfront payments, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, and a significant share of regional revenue via a pre-determined minimum product supply price.

Is VIZZ FDA-approved and available in the U.S. (LENZ)?

Yes; VIZZ received FDA approval in July 2025 and has been commercially available in the United States since September 30, 2025.

How does the Lunatus deal affect LENZ's commercialization strategy (LENZ)?

The deal expands LENZ's global commercialization network as its fourth partner for VIZZ, aiming to increase access in the Middle East.