Zhaoke Ophthalmology Limited (“Zhaoke Ophthalmology” or the “Company”, SEHK: 6622), a leading ophthalmic pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapies that address significant unmet medical needs, is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhaoke (Hong Kong) Ophthalmology Pharmaceutical Limited, has entered into a distribution and supply agreement for Bimatoprost Timolol eye drop with Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn. Bhd. (“Pharmaniaga”), one of Malaysia’s largest integrated pharmaceutical groups.

Bimatoprost Timolol eye drop is a generic fixed-dose combination drug researched, developed and manufactured by Zhaoke Ophthalmology for the treatment of glaucoma.  It is used to lower intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who do not respond sufficiently to β-blockers or prostaglandin analogues alone. The Company’s Bimatoprost Timolol has been approved and commercialized in China since March 2023.

Under the terms of the agreement, Zhaoke Ophthalmology is entitled to grant to Pharmaniaga the non-exclusive right to register, import, promote, market, sell and distribute Bimatoprost Timolol eye drop in Malaysia.  Pharmaniaga will be responsible for registering the product in Malaysia under its own trademark.  It will make a minimum purchase commitment to Zhaoke Ophthalmology based on forecast sales volumes.

Dr. Li Xiaoyi (Benjamin), Chairman of the Board, Executive Director and CEO of Zhaoke Ophthalmology, said, “Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness worldwide and as such is one of the first eye diseases that we have focused our drug development and commercialization efforts on.  I am proud that our agreement with Pharmaniaga to distribute Bimatoprost Timolol eye drop will provide a treatment option to patients in Malaysia.  It is also an important milestone for our commercialization activities, representing both our first overseas distribution deal on an in-house developed drug and an expansion of our commercial activities further across Asia.”

Mr. Zulhazri Razali, Director of Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd, said, “With cases of glaucoma in Malaysia reported to be increasing, there is an urgent need for more affordable treatment options to be made available to ophthalmologists and their patients.  That’s why we are excited to bring Zhaoke Ophthalmology’s Bimatoprost Timolol eye drop to the Malaysian market, helping to tackle this growing problem as part of our mission to provide quality products and superior service.”

About Bimatoprost Timolol

Bimatoprost Timolol is a fixed-dose combination eye drop with a prostaglandin analogue and a β-blocker for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analogue (PGA), can be used as monotherapy for primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Timolol is a non-selective β-adrenergic receptor blocker that can lower the IOP in primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma cases.

Bimatoprost Timolol eye drop provides an alternative treatment for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension with poor or inadequate response to monotherapy. With its multiple mechanisms to lower IOP, this drug can achieve target IOP in patients who have inadequate response to either PGA or β-blocker eye drops alone.

About Glaucoma

According to the WHO, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.  It is a chronic and progressive disease associated with high IOP, resulting in optic nerve damage.  IOP is determined by the balance of the rate of fluid production versus fluid drainage in the eye. Generally primary glaucoma can be classified into two types, namely open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Prostaglandin analogues reduce IOP by increasing fluid drainage while b-blockers do so by reducing fluid production.

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