ORASIS PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIA SUBMISSION OF A NEW DRUG APPLICATION FOR BESKA FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRESBYOPIA

15 Jul 2026
·
Deals
Clinical ResultPhase 3NDADrug Approval
Submission of New Drug Application (NDA) in Australia by Aspen Pharmacare Australia (Aspen Australia) marks the first ex-U.S. regulatory submission (known as QLOSI® in the U.S.)
PONTE VEDRA, Fla., July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orasis Pharmaceuticals and Aspen Australia announced that Aspen has submitted a New Drug Application in Australia to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the review and approval of BESKA (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 0.4% for the treatment of presbyopia in adults (known as QLOSI in the US market).  Aspen will be responsible for the distribution and marketing of BESKA in Australia.
The NDA submission was supported by positive data from two pivotal, Phase 3 clinical trials, NEAR-1 and NEAR-2, which evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability in more than 600 adult patients with presbyopia. Both trials met their primary and key secondary endpoints on Day 8, achieving statistically significant 3-line or more gain in distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) and no loss of 1-line or more in distance visual acuity. All adverse events reported were in the single digits, with headache (6.8%) and instillation site pain (5.8%) being the most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs).1
"We are excited about this important milestone as we work with trusted partners to expand the availability of our treatment for presbyopia in additional markets around the world,"
said Elad Kedar, Chief Executive Officer of Orasis Pharmaceuticals. "We know Aspen's highly experienced team is well-positioned to work with local regulators to gain approval and ultimately to commercialize Qlosi, with the trademark BESKA in Australia, bringing to eye care providers a flexible option for their presbyopia patients seeking an alternative to reading glasses."
"Aspen is proud to have completed the submission for Beska in Australia.  This product is a great enhancement to our existing portfolio as we seek to improve the visual health and quality of life in the communities we serve.  We look forward to the continued collaboration with Orasis Pharmaceuticals as we prepare for the approval and launch next year,"
said Trevor Ziman,
Regional Chief Executive Asia Pacific.
Presbyopia is the loss of ability to focus on near objects as a result of the natural aging process. It occurs mostly after the age of 40 when the crystalline lens of the eye gradually stiffens and loses flexibility.2 There are almost two billion people globally and more than 128 million people in the U.S. living with presbyopia.2,3 People with presbyopia experience blurred vision when performing daily tasks that require near visual acuity, such as reading a book, a restaurant menu or messages on a smartphone. Presbyopia cannot be prevented or reversed, and it continues to progress gradually. Many existing treatment options can be either cumbersome or invasive, presenting a significant unmet need for presbyopia patients. Presbyopia can be diagnosed during an eye exam conducted by an eye care professional.4
About Qlosi/Beska
Qlosi/Beska (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 0.4% is a novel, prescription eye drop approved in the U.S. for the treatment of presbyopia in adults. Beska is not approved in Australia yet, but an NDA has been submitted and accepted for review and approval by the TGA.  Qlosi's EyeQ Formulation™ delivers the lowest effective concentration of pilocarpine approved in a preservative-free eye drop, with a near-neutral pH and dual lubricating agents to provide enhanced safety and patient comfort without compromising on efficacy.1,5,6 Qlosi improves near visual acuity by pupil modulation, resulting in a "pinhole effect" and an increase in the depth of field, thus increasing the ability to focus on near objects without negatively impacting distance vision. In clinical trials, the most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were headache and instillation site pain, at rates of 6.8% and 5.8%, respectively. For more information, visit www.QlosiECP.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Orasis Pharmaceuticals is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company delivering solutions to reshape vision possibilities. Orasis has developed Qlosi (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 0.4%, a novel, corrective prescription eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia, or age-related blurry near vision, in adults. Orasis is led by a collaborative team of industry executives and eye care professionals working to transform the standard of care for near vision correction. Orasis is funded by a diverse group of sophisticated and experienced life science and healthcare investors. Orasis has offices in the United States and Israel. For more information, visit www.orasis-pharma.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Aspen Pharmacare Australia is one of Australia's leading pharmaceutical companies, dedicated to improving health and quality of life in the communities it serves, through a diverse portfolio of over 150 prescription and over the counter (OTC) medicine brands. Since commencing operations in Australia in 2001, the company has grown rapidly through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, serving both Australia and New Zealand with high-quality, accessible medicines.
Qlosi U.S. Indication and Important Safety Information
Indication and Usage
Qlosi (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 0.4%, for topical ophthalmic use is a cholinergic agonist indicated for the treatment of presbyopia in adults.
Important Safety Information
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Hypersensitivity
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Advise patients to not drive or operate machinery if vision is not clear (e.g., blurred vision). Exercise caution in night driving and other hazardous occupations in poor illumination.
Rare cases of retinal detachment have been reported with miotics. Examination of the retina is advised in all patients prior to initiation of therapy. Advise patients to seek immediate medical care with sudden onset of flashes of lights, floaters or vision loss.
Qlosi is not recommended to be used when iritis is present.
Qlosi should not be administered while wearing contact lenses. Remove lenses prior to the installation of Qlosi and wait 10 minutes before reinsertion.
Avoid touching the tip of the vial to the eye or any other surface.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions (5% to 8%) are instillation site pain and headaches.
Please see full Prescribing Information here:
qlosi.com/prescribing-information
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Media Contact:
[email protected]
©2026 Orasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | QLO.00750 | 07/2026
SOURCE ORASIS PHARMACEUTICALS
21%
more press release views with
Request a Demo
The content of the article does not represent any opinions of Synapse and its affiliated companies. If there is any copyright infringement or error, please contact us, and we will deal with it within 24 hours.
Indications
Targets
-
Hiro LS Researcher
The AI Search Engine Built to Accelerate Biopharma Decisions
Search across billion-scale life sciences data to uncover signals, validate evidence, and act with confidence.
Ask any biopharma research question→
Get started for free today!
Accelerate Strategic R&D decision making with Synapse, Patsnap’s AI-powered Connected Innovation Intelligence Platform Built for Life Sciences Professionals.
Discover Synapse Data Servers
Synapse data is now integrated into the PatSnap LS Model Context Protocol (MCP) service. Customize your LLM agent now using our MCP server!