AXIM Biotechnologies Partners with JK Medical to Expand Access to Ocular Diagnostic Tests Across Latin America

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 this 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 combines AXIM's 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. Catalina Valencia, CEO of AXIM Biotechnologies, stated that this partnership represents a major step in expanding access to rapid, clinic-friendly ocular diagnostics throughout the region. 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 dry eye disease and ocular allergy.

Juan Carlos Torres, CEO of JK Medical, Inc., emphasized 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 grants JK Medical 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.

The significance of this partnership lies in addressing the substantial unmet need in dry eye diagnosis across Latin America. Dry Eye Disease affects an estimated 350 million people worldwide, including tens of millions across Latin America. Clinicians face challenges 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. Additionally, determining whether there is an allergic component presents another critical diagnostic challenge.

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. Some patients may not have obvious visual signs but still experience significant symptoms, while others may show visual signs of damage but not report symptoms. AXIM's diagnostic approach provides a solution to these challenges through its TearScan® portfolio, which is the only point-of-care solution that enables eye-care professionals to identify whether a patient has aqueous-deficient dry eye, allergy, or a combination of these conditions.

By testing for Lactoferrin levels, clinicians can 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 of these conditions requires different treatment approaches, rapid, point-of-care tools are essential for proper diagnosis and treatment selection.

These two point-of-care, inexpensive, and rapid tests provide clinicians with tools to diagnose aqueous-deficient dry eye and allergic conjunctivitis quickly, and through process of elimination, indicate when further testing for evaporative dry eye may be necessary. With TearScan® Lactoferrin and TearScan® IgE tests, physicians can save valuable chair time while giving patients faster, more accurate answers. The partnership between AXIM Biotechnologies and JK Medical represents a significant advancement in making these essential diagnostic tools available throughout Latin America, potentially improving eye care for millions of patients across the region. For more information about AXIM Biotechnologies, visit https://www.aximbiotech.com.