CorneaGen (Formerly SightLife Surgical)

In October 2016, Flying L Partners led a Series A investment in SightLife Surgical, Inc. (SLS), now CorneaGen.

Background of the Investment

Founded in 1969, SightLife is a leading provider of corneas for transplant around the world and is strongly focused on eliminating corneal blindness worldwide. To accelerate its mission, SightLife established an affiliate, SightLife Surgical, Inc. which will engage in all surgeon facing operations and will accelerate bringing innovation to treatments and therapies for the cornea. SLS, currently is an industry leader and will now have additional resources and expertise to accelerate growth. A focus will be to achieve unique scale and critical mass in a fragmented industry. Further, SLS will build a robust R&D pipeline of novel technologies to address corneal diseases and treatments. This is a unique opportunity to address a long underserved market through innovation and service.

RxSight

In March 2017, Flying L Partners led a Series H investment in RxSight

Background of the Investment

RxSight is the global leader in adjustable intraocular lens technology. Headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, the company has developed breakthrough intraocular lens technology for use in cataract and lens replacement surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly practiced surgical procedures with approximately 25 million surgeries performed globally each year. Using a proprietary lens material designed by a Nobel Prize winning scientist, RxSights's Light Adjustable Lens (RxLAL) utilizes light to enable physicians to make office-based refractive adjustments after it has been implanted in the eye. This approach will allow physicians to prescribe customized solutions for all distances that fit each cataract patient's individual needs and preferences. Premarket Approval Application (PMA) for the technology has been submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA.) Additional information about RxSight can be found at www.rxsight.com.

Equinox Ophthalmic, Inc.

In March 2018, Flying L Partners led a Series B investment in Equinox Ophthalmic, Inc.

Background of the investment

Equinox is a clinical development stage medical device company with an adjustable, non-surgical, non-pharmacological technology to treat diseases of the optic nerve such as glaucoma, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), hypotony and visual impairment and intracranial pressure (VIIP). Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, affecting approximately 141 million people worldwide and representing an estimated global market of $6 billion by 2020. The company's product alters intraocular pressure by adding vacuum to the microenvironment in front of the eye thereby decoupling intraocular pressure from intracranial pressure. This device can be used with untreated eyes, pharmacologically treated eyes, or eyes with prior surgery and allows for home health and patient compliance monitoring. Additional information can be found at www.equinoxus.com.

Surface Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

In May and July 2018, Flying L Partners led Series A investments in Surface Pharmaceuticals.

Background of the investment

Surface Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for ocular diseases and is seeking FDA approval for its drug candidates through the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway under the federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act. Its current drug pipeline consists of three proprietary drug candidates. Surface topical eye drop drug candidates, SURF-100 and SURF-200, utilize a patented delivery vehicle invented by renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Richard Lindstrom. Surface's third drug candidate, SURF-300, is a patent-pending oral capsule that will target patients also suffering from certain ocular surface diseases. Additional information about Surface can be found at www.surfacepharma.com.

AcuFocus, Inc.

In August and September 2018, Flying L Partners led a Series H investment in AcuFocus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTMENT

AcuFocus, Inc. is a privately held ophthalmic medical device company that develops and markets breakthrough technologies for the improvement of vision. Their proven, proprietary technology platform uses a small aperture - or pinhole - effect to allow focused light rays to reach the retina and bring objects into focus. The result is unique, reliable and long-term. Using this small aperture concept, AcuFocus’ IC-8 intraocular lens was designed to increase natural range of vision for patients with cataracts by extending the focus of light rays that enter the eye. The IC-8 IOL received CE Mark approval in 2014. In November 2018, AcuFocus received approval for an Investigational Device Exemption from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct a pivotal study of the IC-8 small aperture intraocular lens. Additional information about AcuFocus can be found at www.acufocus.com.

Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.

In February 2019, Flying L Partners co-led a Series B investment in Oyster Point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTMENT

Oyster Point Pharma, Inc. is a privately held, clinical stage pharmaceutical company leveraging neuroscience to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapies to treat diseases with high unmet needs. The company’s initial focus is to develop innovative therapeutics to treat the signs and symptoms of Dry Eye Disease by stimulating the Trigeminal Parasympathetic Pathway to activate the glands responsible for tear film production. The parasympathetic nervous system is part of the involuntary nervous system responsible for regulating homeostasis, the “rest and digest” system, and is an important pathway for basal tear film production. Oyster Point is leveraging a class of receptors called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which are located on the trigeminal nerve, accessible within the nose, to stimulate tear film production in patients with Dry Eye Disease. Additional information about Oyster Point can be found at www.oysterpointrx.com.

CorneaGen Inc.

In February 2019, Flying L Partners led a Series B investment in CorneaGen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTMENT

CorneaGen Inc. is a privately held, mission-driven company committed to transforming how corneal surgeons treat and care for the cornea. The company is focused on innovating the next generation of cornea care, from new medical devices and biologics to therapeutics and interventions. CorneaGen supports corneal surgeons and their patients with a spectrum of services, including the latest in innovative products, delivery of the highest quality tissue, surgeon education, and advocacy for patient access and reimbursement policies. In February 2019, CorneaGen completed the acquisition of KeraLink International’s domestic eye bank operations and related assets. Through the acquisition, CorneaGen will gain efficiencies of scale in reaching the U.S. market, including the ability to serve an additional eight percent of domestic corneal surgeons and expand its offering of surgical products. Additional information about CorneaGen can be found at www.corneagen.com.

Neurolens, Inc.

In August 2019, Flying L Partners co-led a Series D investment in Neurolens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTMENT

Neurolens is a privately-held company that has developed a treatment system utilizing the neurolens measurement device® and neurolens®, a therapeutic prescription lens, for the treatment of Digital Vision Syndrome and Chronic Daily Headache. With the increased demand on the visual system as a result of digital device overuse, the prevalence of symptoms such as dry eye, headaches, neck pain and digital eyestrain has dramatically increased. In a recent report by the Vision Council, 65% of Americans experience symptoms of Digital Vision Syndrome on a daily basis. Patients experiencing these symptoms were found to share one common thread: binocular misalignment resulting in compensating eye movements to see at distance and near. Binocular misalignment is not a serious problem for short periods for most people, but it becomes a serious problem with continuous close work, such as working at a computer. These discoveries led to the development of neurolens measurement device and the neurolens. Additional information about Neurolens can be found at www.neurolens.com.

Equinox Ophthalmic, Inc.

In August 2019, Flying L Partners co-led a Series C investment in Equinox.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTMENT

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

In December 2019, Flying L Partners participated in a Series B investment in Tarsus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTMENT

Tarsus is a clinical stage company developing a novel, anti-parasitic drug platform based on a repurposed, best-in-class veterinary molecule. Its lead program is targeting blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), large ocular surface disease markets with no currently approved therapy, by eradicating the mites that cause the disorder. Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids and usually involves the part of the eyelid where the eyelashes grow. It commonly occurs when tiny oil glands located near the base of the eyelashes become clogged. This leads to irritated and red eyes. MGD is the blockage or some other abnormality of the meibomian glands that prevent them from secreting enough oil into the tears. MGD is a type of blepharitis. Because tear film with insufficient oil on the surface of the eye tends to evaporate too quickly, MGD is associated with dry eye syndrome. Additional information about Tarsus can be found at www.tarsusrx.com.

TearClear, Inc.

In April 2020, Flying L Partners participated in a Series B investment in TearClear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTMENT

TearClear is an emerging ophthalmic pharmaceutical company with the goal of disrupting the way current topical medications are delivered to the ocular surface. Its lead product candidates in glaucoma will pave the way for future indications across multiple programs in development.

TearClear has developed novel technology to remove harmful preservatives from drops when delivered to the eye. The benefit of delivering preservative free drops to patients on long-term topical medications is clearly understood in the market. Approximately 25% of patients using preserved glaucoma medications have ocular surface disease related to the preservative. TearClear’s hydrogel-based technology contained in the tip of a multi-dose bottle is novel. It allows a preservative, such as commonly-used BAK, to preserve the drug in the bottle but completely removes it from the drop immediately prior to being delivered to the eye. Additional information about TearClear can be found at www.tearclear.com.