Sophia Antipolis, France
Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today provided an overview of its corporate activities and milestones, as well as revenues and cash position for the Nicox Group as of March 31, 2018.
“The early months of 2018 marked a time of growth for Nicox, with the expansion and relocation of our U.S. development office to Research Triangle Park in North Carolina in preparation for the NCX 470 and NCX 4251 programs advancing to Phase 2 clinical testing,” said Michele Garufi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nicox. “With respect to VYZULTA® our partner Bausch + Lomb announced successfully securing the first reimbursement coverage with a key payor, a crucial step in expanding the reach of this innovative, much needed therapy. Through the efforts of our partner and the recently renegotiated financial terms of our global licensing agreement, VYZULTATM is a key meaningful value driver for Nicox.”
First Quarter 2018 and Recent Operational Highlights
- NCX 667 scientific data presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2018 Annual Meeting (April 29 – May 3, 2018). Yesterday, Nicox announced the presentation of strong preclinical data at ARVO 2018 demonstrating that NCX 667, a lead molecule among the Company’s future generation of stand-alone NO donors, lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) in a dose-dependent manner in various normotensive and hypertensive ocular models. The Company also presented novel mechanism of action data supporting the effect of NCX 667 on classical aqueous humor outflow, generated in an in vitro bioengineered human trabecular meshwork/Schlemm’s canal system.
- U.S. development office relocated to Research Triangle Park. In April, Nicox announced the opening of its U.S. development office in Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina, USA. The decision to relocate from its prior development office in Fort Worth, Texas, and to expand the Company’s presence at RTP, is driven by the anticipated progress of NCX 470 for patients with glaucoma and NCX 4251 for patients with blepharitis towards Phase 2 clinical testing.
- Secured improved financial terms for VYZULTA® licensing agreement with Bausch + Lomb. In March, the Company announced an amendment to its global licensing agreement with Bausch + Lomb Incorporated, a leading global eye health company and wholly owned subsidiary of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., for VYZULTA® (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024%. Under the amended terms, entered into in consideration of final resolution and release relating to certain alleged issues between the parties, royalties paid to Nicox on worldwide net sales of VYZULTA® will increase by 1% over the original royalty on Net Sales above $300 million per year. In addition, the potential milestones payable to Nicox by Bausch + Lomb have been increased by $20 million.
- Tomas Navratil, Ph.D. appointed Vice President, Head of Development. In January, Nicox appointed Tomas Navratil, Ph.D. as Vice President, Head of Development. Tomas is responsible for leading all of the Company’s non-clinical, CMC, and clinical development activities.
Key Upcoming Milestones
- ZERVIATETM expected to be launched in the U.S. by Eyevance Pharmaceuticals for the 2018 fall allergy season. Indicated for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis, ZERVIATETM is the first and only topical ocular formulation of cetirizine. ZERVIATETM was approved by the U.S. FDA in May 2017. In September 2017, Nicox licensed exclusive U.S. commercial rights for ZERVIATETM to Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
- NCX 470 U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) submission enabling Phase 2 clinical study in glaucoma patients planned in Q3 2018. NCX 470 is a novel second generation NO-donating prostaglandin analog in development for the reduction of IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
- NCX 4251 U.S. IND submission enabling Phase 2 clinical study in blepharitis patients planned in Q1 2019. NCX 4251 is a novel, patented ophthalmic formulation of fluticasone propionate being developed for the first time as a targeted topical treatment of the eyelids for patients with acute exacerbation of blepharitis. Blepharitis is a common ocular condition in which the edges of the eyelids become red and swollen, and may contain dandruff-like matter.
First Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights
As of March 31, 2018, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of €36.3 million as compared with €41.4 million at December 31, 2017. Net revenue for the first quarter of 2018 was €0.075 million, comprised exclusively of royalty revenue from early sales of VYZULTA® by global partner Bausch + Lomb, after deduction of Nicox’s royalty payments to Pfizer under a previous agreement signed in 2009. The Group recorded no revenues for the first quarter 2017.