AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. has entered into an exclusive license and distribution agreement with JK Medical, Inc. covering seven Latin American countries: Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia. Under the agreement, JK Medical will market and distribute AXIM's TearScan® Lactoferrin Diagnostic Test for aiding in the diagnosis of aqueous-deficient Dry Eye Disease and the TearScan® IgE Diagnostic Test for aiding in the diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis within the covered territory.
The collaboration pairs AXIM's pioneering lateral-flow diagnostics with JK Medical's regional market access and commercialization capabilities to accelerate adoption of point-of-care ocular testing across Latin America. This partnership represents a significant advancement in addressing the substantial unmet need in ocular disease diagnosis throughout the region. Dry Eye Disease affects an estimated 350 million people worldwide, including tens of millions across Latin America, creating a pressing need for improved diagnostic tools.
Catalina Valencia, CEO of AXIM Biotechnologies, stated that this partnership represents a major step in expanding access to rapid, clinic-friendly ocular diagnostics throughout Latin America. By combining AXIM's TearScan® portfolio with JK Medical's established footprint, the companies can support eye-care professionals with objective biomarkers that complement clinical evaluation for DED and ocular allergy. Juan Carlos Torres, CEO of JK Medical, Inc., added that Latin America's providers are eager for in-office tools that can streamline diagnosis and guide treatment decisions for dry eye and allergic conjunctivitis.
The agreement provides JK Medical with exclusive rights to market and distribute TearScan® tests across the seven countries for a four-year period of exclusivity commencing once regulatory approval is obtained in two out of the seven countries, with the exception of Chile where commercialization can occur immediately. JK Medical will lead distribution, education, and onboarding efforts, while AXIM will provide product supply, training, and technical support. The companies will collaborate on country-specific registrations and compliance activities.
The TearScan® portfolio addresses critical challenges in ocular disease diagnosis. Clinicians face difficulties in differentiating between aqueous-deficient DED, where the lacrimal glands do not produce enough tears, and evaporative DED, where tears evaporate too quickly due to meibomian gland dysfunction. Visual inspection alone has significant limitations for diagnosing dry eye, as visual cues cannot determine whether the cause is meibomian gland dysfunction, inadequate tear production, or a combination of both.
AXIM's diagnostic approach enables clinicians to test for Lactoferrin levels to determine whether a patient has aqueous-deficient DED if levels are below normal. If Lactoferrin levels are normal, clinicians can then test IgE levels for allergic conjunctivitis. If both tests show normal results, the dry eye may be due to evaporative DED, prompting additional targeted testing. Since each condition requires different treatment approaches, rapid, point-of-care tools are essential for proper diagnosis and treatment selection. These inexpensive and rapid tests provide clinicians with tools to diagnose aqueous-deficient DED and allergic conjunctivitis quickly, saving valuable chair time while giving patients faster, more accurate answers. For more information about AXIM Biotechnologies, visit https://www.aximbiotech.com.
