BioTuesdays

LENZ Therapeutics completes merger with Graphite Bio

Lenz-Logo

LENZ Therapeutics (NASDAQ:LENZ) has completed its merger with Graphite Bio in an all-stock transaction.

LENZ is advancing its lead assets, LNZ100 and LNZ101, which are both preservative-free, single-use, once-daily eye drops for the treatment of presbyopia.

The combined company is being led by Eef Schimmelpennink, President and CEO; Dan Chevallard, CFO; Marc Odrich, M.D., CMO; and Shawn Olsson, CCO. The post-merger Board is composed of Mr. Schimmelpennink, Fred Guerard, Jim McCollum, Zach Scheiner, Shelley Thunen, Kim Drapkin, and Jeff George (as Chair).

“Following the close of this transaction, we believe we are well-positioned to bring the opportunity of a once-daily pharmacological eye drop intended to improve near vision throughout the full workday closer to the 128 million people in the United States who are impacted by presbyopia,” Mr. Schimmelpennink said in a statement.

“With clinical activities completed in each of the three Phase 3 CLARITY trials evaluating LNZ100 and LNZ101, we look forward to reporting topline results from these trials in April 2024 and, subject to successful completion of such trials, submitting an NDA to the FDA by mid-year,” he added.