Nicox Partner Ocumension Completes Successful Hong Kong IPO at an approximately US$1,090 Million Valuation
July 10, 2020
-
Nicox’s partner Ocumension raised HK$1,423.97 (~US$183.76) million in an IPO in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, valuing the company at approximately HK$8,430 (US$1,090) million on the first day of trading
-
Two of Ocumension’s four key drug candidates in development are licensed from Nicox: NCX 470 and ZERVIATE™
Sophia Antipolis, France
Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today congratulated its partner Ocumension Therapeutics on its successful IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and provided an update on the programs in the collaboration.
Ocumension Therapeutics (01477.HK) began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 10, 2020 after an IPO raising HK$1,424 (~US$184) million at a valuation of approximately HK$8,430 (~US$1,090) million on the first day of trading. Nicox and Ocumension have collaborations on NCX 470 and ZERVIATETM (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24%, in the Chinese and certain Southeast Asian markets, and on NCX 4251 in the Chinese market. NCX 470 and ZERVIATE have been identified by Ocumension as key drug candidates, among four in total.
“Ocumension is a key partner for Nicox as we are convinced that the Chinese market offers significant future revenue potential for our partnered products. Ocumension’s successful IPO demonstrates the strong interest by investors in the potential value of their pipeline, including Nicox’s NCX 470 and ZERVIATE.” said Michele Garufi, Chairman and CEO of Nicox. “We are working very closely with the outstanding Ocumension team on both of these programs, and in the future on NCX 4251, and we believe they are well positioned to maximize the value of our assets in the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets.”
Update on Programs in the Nicox-Ocumension Collaboration
- NCX 470, Nicox’s lead product candidate, a novel, second-generation nitric oxide (NO)-donating bimatoprost analog: Mont Blanc, the first Phase 3 clinical trial of NCX 470 for lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, was initiated on 1 June, 2020 (see Press Release). It is being conducted principally in clinical sites in the U.S. and will include a small number of Chinese clinical sites. A second Phase 3 trial, Denali, jointly managed and equally funded by Nicox and Ocumension, is expected to start in Q4 2020. It will include clinical sites in both the U.S. and China. The two trials together are expected to be sufficient for filing NDAs in both the U.S. and China.
- ZERVIATE, the first and only eye drop formulation of cetirizine for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis: A Phase 3 clinical trial for approval in China, to be conducted and financed by Ocumension, is expected to start by Q4 2020. ZERVIATE is the first novel, topical prescription-only treatment for allergic conjunctivitis in over 10 years and is being marketed in the U.S. by partner Eyevance. It is licensed to Samil in South Korea.
- NCX 4251, a novel, patented, ophthalmic suspension of fluticasone propionate nanocrystals: Following an FDA meeting earlier this year, Nicox is planning a Phase 2b clinical trial which will include both blepharitis and dry eye endpoints with the option of declaring either acute exacerbations of blepharitis or dry eye endpoints as the primary outcome. Ocumension expects to initiate a Chinese Phase 2 clinical trial in blepharitis in Q2 2021 and a Phase 3 clinical trial in Q4 2022.
Nicox may potentially receive over $18 million in development and sales milestones for ZERVIATE and NCX 4251, and is eligible to receive tiered royalties on Ocumension’s sales of NCX 470, ZERVIATE and NCX 4251. Nicox and Ocumension expanded their collaboration on NCX 470 in March 2020 when Ocumension paid Nicox €15 million upfront in place of the milestones in the original agreement, gained additional rights to NCX 470 for Korea and South East Asia and agreed to pay 50% of the costs of the second Phase 3 clinical trial of NCX 470 in glaucoma (‘Denali’).
Nicox continues to closely watch the spread of COVID-19 and its impact around the world. We do not currently anticipate delays to our clinical timelines and will provide updates in due course if there is an impact on our development projects and timelines.