What LENZ Therapeutics does

LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: LENZ) is a US biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Solana Beach, California, that develops and commercializes prescription therapeutics for presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision. The company re-emerged under CEO Eef Schimmelpennink in 2021 with a $47M Series A, raised an $83.5M Series B in 2023, completed a reverse merger with Graphite Bio in March 2024 to list on Nasdaq, and received FDA approval in July 2025 for VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%, the first and only aceclidine-based prescription eye drop indicated for presbyopia in adults.

The company's core technology is a pupil-selective miotic formulation: aceclidine contracts the iris sphincter muscle to create a pinhole effect, increasing depth of focus and improving near vision for up to 10 hours from a single daily dose. Phase 3 CLARITY trials in over 600 participants showed 93% of subjects achieving 20/40 or better near vision within 30 minutes, with over 30,000 treatment days of safety data. US commercialization began in October 2025 through retail pharmacy distribution supported by a 117-representative field sales force targeting optometrists and ophthalmologists, in-office dispensing in 25 states, physician sampling, and a 'Make it VIZZable' direct-to-consumer campaign featuring Sarah Jessica Parker.

LENZ operates a dual revenue model. In the US it sells VIZZ directly as a prescription pharmaceutical, generating $1.6M in Q4 2025 (launch quarter) and $1.9M in Q1 2026 on roughly 25,000 paid prescriptions. Internationally, the company monetizes through licensing and distribution partnerships: Everest Medicines (Greater China, up to $85M in milestones plus tiered royalties), Laboratoires Théa (Canada, over $70M in milestones plus tiered double-digit royalties), Arrotex (Australia/New Zealand), Lunatus (Middle East), and Lotus Pharmaceutical (South Korea), with regulatory submissions filed at the FDA, EMA, UK MHRA, and South Korea MFDS. End customers are individual presbyopia patients (approximately 128M in the US and 1.8B globally), with no meaningful single-customer concentration.

Name

LENZ Therapeutics

Legal name

LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://lenz-tx.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

LENZ Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LENZ) is a biopharmaceutical company that commercializes VIZZ, the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based prescription eye drop for presbyopia in adults, sold directly in the US and through international licensing partners covering Greater China, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East, and South Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)

Keywords

• Presbyopia treatment
• Ophthalmic pharmaceuticals
• Aceclidine eye drops
• Near vision restoration
• Prescription eye care

Headquarters

HQ city

Del Mar

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. VIZZ Product Sales: Revenue generated from commercial sales of VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44% in the United States through prescriptions filled at pharmacies. Early commercial traction showing 25,000 paid prescriptions in Q1 2026 with 19% sequential growth.
2. International Licensing and Royalties: LENZ receives upfront payments, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on net sales from international partners including Everest Medicines (up to $85M in milestones plus mid single-digit to low double-digit royalties for Greater China), Laboratoires Théa (over $70M plus tiered double-digit royalties for Canada), Arrotex (Australia/New Zealand), and Lunatus (Middle East).
3. Private Investment (PIPE): $30 million private investment from Ridgeback Capital via a PIPE agreement to support regulatory and commercial activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LENZ Therapeutics commercializes VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%, the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based prescription eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia in adults. The once-daily drop contracts the iris sphincter muscle to create a pinhole effect, restoring clear near vision for up to 10 hours. The company sells the product in the United States through retail pharmacies and a 117-representative sales force targeting eye care professionals, while licensing VIZZ to regional partners across Greater China, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East, and South Korea.

Product overview

LENZ Therapeutics commercializes VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44%, the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based eye drop for treating presbyopia. The company developed LNZ100 and LNZ101 through Phase 3 clinical trials, with LNZ100 receiving FDA approval in July 2025 and being marketed as VIZZ. VIZZ is a once-daily prescription eye drop that improves near vision for up to 10 hours through pupil contraction creating a pinhole effect. LENZ is expanding globally through licensing partnerships while maintaining US commercialization directly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIZZ: VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44% - the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia in adults

Products and services

• VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44% The first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based prescription eye drop for treating presbyopia in adults. Once-daily eye drop that improves near vision for up to 10 hours by creating a pinhole effect through pupil contraction. Validated through three Phase 3 clinical trials involving over 600 participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of participants achieved 20/40 or better near vision within 30 minutes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty LtdmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 June 2026Exclusive licensing and commercialization agreement for VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) in Australia and New Zealand. Arrotex receives exclusive rights to register and commercialize the presbyopia treatment while LENZ receives upfront payment plus share of gross margin from product sales. This is LENZ's fifth ex-U.S. partnership.
• Everest MedicinesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 June 2026Everest Medicines acquired rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize VIZZ (LNZ100) for presbyopia treatment in Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan) through an Asset Purchase Agreement with Corxel Pharmaceuticals. LENZ is eligible to receive up to $85.0 million in remaining regulatory and sales milestones plus tiered mid single-digit to low double-digit royalties on net sales. NDA submitted in September 2025 with approval anticipated Q1 2027.
• Lunatus Marketing & Consulting FZCOmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 January 2026Exclusive distribution agreement for VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) for treating presbyopia in the Middle East region, covering UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq. LENZ receives upfront, regulatory and commercial milestone payments plus significant share of revenue. This is LENZ's fourth international commercialization partnership.
• Lotus PharmaceuticalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2025Lotus Pharmaceutical submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for VIZZ (LNZ100) in South Korea for the treatment of presbyopia following positive Phase 3 trial data. This submission marked the second regulatory step in Asia for VIZZ.
• Laboratoires ThéamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 July 2025Exclusive license and commercialization agreement for LNZ100 in Canada. Théa received exclusive rights to register and commercialize the aceclidine-based eye drop candidate for treating presbyopia. LENZ eligible to receive over $70 million in upfront, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments plus tiered double-digit royalties on net sales. This was LENZ's third international commercialization agreement.
• Graphite BiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2024LENZ Therapeutics completed a merger with Graphite Bio, with the combined company trading on NASDAQ under ticker 'LENZ' starting March 22, 2024.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Allergan (an AbbVie company): Allergan markets Vuity (pilocarpine 1.25%), the first FDA-approved presbyopia eye drop and VIZZ's primary direct competitor. Same patient population (presbyopes), same delivery mechanism (topical ophthalmic drops), same prescriber base (optometrists/ophthalmologists).
• Orasis Pharmaceuticals: Orasis is developing CSF-1 (low-dose pilocarpine) for presbyopia, positioning as another miotic-based eye drop competitor. Same therapeutic category, same target patient, same ECP channel; represents the next credible competitive threat to VIZZ's first-mover position.
• Visus Therapeutics: Visus is developing BRIMOCHOL and other presbyopia therapeutics based on miotic mechanisms. Clinical-stage direct competitor with overlapping indication, mechanism class, and prescriber targeting.
• Ocuphire Pharma: Ocuphire is developing ophthalmic therapeutics for presbyopia and other refractive indications, including Nyxol. Same eye-care specialty pharmaceutical model, target prescribers, and indication overlap as LENZ.

Emerging players

• Eyenovia: Eyenovia develops ophthalmic pharmaceutical products using its Optejet dispenser platform, including presbyopia candidates (MicroLine/pilocarpine). Different delivery technology but same therapeutic indication and prescriber channel.
• Eyedetec Medical: Eyedetec is developing pharmaceutical eye drops for presbyopia and myopia. Clinical-stage emerging competitor with same therapeutic category, though smaller and earlier-stage than LENZ.

Broad incumbents

• Bausch + Lomb: Bausch + Lomb is a global ophthalmic company with a broad portfolio including prescription eye drops, surgical products, and consumer vision care. While not focused exclusively on presbyopia, it serves the same ECP channel and competes for eye-drop market share.
• Alcon: Alcon is the global leader in eye care, spanning surgical, vision care, and pharmaceuticals. It is a major channel partner and a broad incumbent with overlapping ECP relationships and ophthalmic pharmaceutical capabilities.
• Laboratoires Théa: Théa is a European ophthalmic specialty pharmaceutical company and LENZ's Canadian commercialization partner for VIZZ. Comparable specialty-ophthalmic pharma focus with similar product lines and prescriber relationships.
• Novartis (Ophthalmology): Novartis operates a significant ophthalmology franchise (including Xiidra and Lucentis) through Sandoz and the broader pharma portfolio. Broad incumbent with overlapping eye-care prescriber relationships and ophthalmic Rx portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lenz_tx

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LENZ Therapeutics