Santen China Signs Exclusive Distribution and Promotion Agreement for Five Marketed Glaucoma Eyedrops Products in the Chinese Mainland
April 17, 2026 - Osaka, Japan - Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter Santen) announced today that Santen China has entered into a distribution and promotion agreement with AbbVie for five marketed glaucoma eyedrops in the Chinese Mainland. Under the agreement, Santen China will receive exclusive distribution rights and conduct promotional activities in the Chinese Mainland for Glaucoma Eyedrops Alphagan®, AlphaganP®, Lumigan®, Ganfort® and Combigan®.
A pillar of AbbVie’s glaucoma eyedrop product portfolio, the brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution (Alphagan® and AlphaganP®) features a dual intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect that suppresses aqueous humor production and promotes aqueous humor outflow via the uveoscleral pathway; it is recommended as one of the first-line treatments under Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society guidelines.1 These products will synergize with existing Santen prostaglandin-related products while creating a complementary, multi‑MoA (Mechanism of Action) glaucoma portfolio and strengthening the Company’s business foundation in the China market.
Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged by increased IOP, causing progressive visual field loss; if not treated appropriately, it can lead to blindness.2,3 As of 2020, the number of patients with primary glaucoma worldwide exceeded 76 million, and this number is expected to exceed 100 million by 2040.4 The number of glaucoma patients in China numbered more than 21.8 million, leading to 5.67 million cases of blindness as of 2020.2
By fully leveraging its proven strong commercial presence in China’s glaucoma market, Santen will capitalize on this agreement with AbbVie to unleash the growth potential of the glaucoma products. While focusing on addressing clinical challenges in glaucoma treatment, Santen is committed to providing eye care professionals with new therapeutic strategies and approaches, empowering them to elevate the standard of glaucoma treatment in China, and ultimately benefit millions of patients.
References
- Asia‑Pacific Glaucoma Guidelines, 4th Edition. 2024
- Chinese Glaucoma Guideline (2020) [J]. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 2020, 56(8): 573-586.
- Weinreb RN, et al. JAMA. 2014;311(18):1901-1911.
- Tham YC, et al. Ophthalmology. 2014;121(11):2081-2090.
About Santen
Santen is a global pharmaceutical company committed to advancing eye health and improving lives through better vision. Founded in 1890 in Osaka, Japan, Santen makes use of more than 135 years of experience in research and development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices to help people around the globe maintain and improve their eye health. Santen focuses exclusively on eye health and its portfolio includes glaucoma, dry eye, infection, allergy, age-related macular degeneration, and myopia. Santen’s products and services are available in more than 60 countries and regions. Guided by its Core Principle “Tenki ni sanyo suru” – Exploring the secrets and mechanisms of nature in order to contribute to people’s health – Santen combines its expertise with deep patient focus to contribute to the realization of “Happiness with Vision.”
For more information, please visit https://www.santen.com/en.
About AbbVie
Founded in 2013, AbbVie is a top 5 research-based global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois, the USA. AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio.
Contact
Corporate Communications
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
E-mail: communication@santen.com
This press release has been published in Japanese, Simplified Chinese and English languages and in the event of any inconsistency, the English version shall prevail.
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