Taiwan-based Formosa Pharmaceuticals has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Arrotex Pharmaceuticals for the commercialisation of clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension, 0.05 percent, in Australia and New Zealand.

Under the agreement, Arrotex will receive exclusive rights to market APP13007, an innovative topical eyedrop indicated for the treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery. The deal includes upfront payments, regulatory and sales milestone payments and royalties over the term of the agreement.

APP13007 contains clobetasol propionate, a superpotent corticosteroid formulated using Formosa’s proprietary APNT nanoparticle platform. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2024, the therapy offers a simplified dosing regimen of twice daily for 14 days and is designed to deliver rapid and sustained relief from inflammation and pain.

In a US survey of 100 ophthalmic surgeons, approximately 80 percent of patients were reported pain-free within four days post-surgery, while adverse events were observed in fewer than 2 percent of cases. The Australia and New Zealand market is estimated to record around 250,000 cataract surgeries annually, with year-on-year growth anticipated.

Erick Co, President and CEO of Formosa Pharmaceuticals, said the partnership reflects Arrotex’s confidence in APP13007 as a valuable addition to its ophthalmology portfolio and highlighted the company’s strong sales and distribution network across Australia.

Matt Zeller, CEO of Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, noted that the agreement strengthens Arrotex’s specialist care portfolio and aligns with its goal of delivering innovative therapies to patients, leveraging its national ophthalmology footprint to expand access across Australia and New Zealand.