AXIM Biotechnologies Partners with JK Medical to Expand Ocular Diagnostic Access Across Latin America
AXIM Biotechnologies has entered an exclusive licensing agreement with JK Medical to distribute its TearScan® diagnostic tests across seven Latin American countries, addressing critical unmet needs in dry eye disease diagnosis through rapid point-of-care testing.
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 represents a significant advancement 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 persistent 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 remains a critical diagnostic question.
Visual inspection alone has proven insufficient for accurate dry eye diagnosis. Visual cues cannot reliably determine whether the cause is meibomian gland dysfunction, inadequate tear production, or a combination of both. Some patients may not show obvious visual signs but still experience significant symptoms, while others may display visual signs of damage without reporting symptoms. This diagnostic uncertainty often leads to inappropriate treatment approaches and prolonged patient discomfort.
AXIM's diagnostic approach provides a solution to these challenges. By testing for Lactoferrin levels, clinicians can determine whether a patient has aqueous-deficient dry eye if levels are below normal. If Lactoferrin levels are normal, testing IgE levels can identify allergic conjunctivitis. If both tests show normal results, the dry eye condition may be due to evaporative factors, prompting additional targeted testing. The ability to administer both tests is particularly valuable since dry eye disease is often multifactorial, with patients potentially having a combination of conditions.
These point-of-care, inexpensive, and rapid tests provide clinicians with tools to diagnose aqueous-deficient dry eye and allergic conjunctivitis quickly. Through process of elimination, they can also indicate when further testing for evaporative dry eye may be necessary. Since each condition requires different treatment approaches, rapid point-of-care tools are essential for effective patient management. The TearScan® portfolio represents the only point-of-care solution that enables eye-care professionals to identify whether a patient has aqueous-deficient dry eye, allergy, or combination conditions, make correct differential diagnoses at the first visit, and select targeted therapies while tracking treatment efficacy over time.
Catalina Valencia, CEO of AXIM Biotechnologies, emphasized the partnership's significance, stating that combining AXIM's TearScan® portfolio with JK Medical's established footprint will 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, noted that Latin America's providers are eager for in-office tools that can streamline diagnosis and guide treatment decisions for these common conditions. The agreement grants JK Medical exclusive rights to market and distribute TearScan® tests across the seven countries, with a four-year exclusivity period commencing once regulatory approval is obtained in two countries, except in Chile where commercialization can occur immediately. For more information about AXIM's diagnostic technologies, visit https://www.aximbiotech.com.