Nicox: Second Quarter 2019 Business Update and Financial Highlights
July 17, 2019
Enrollment completed in the NCX 470 Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension with results expected in early Q4 of this year
Q2 2019 net revenue, including licensing payments, of €5.2 million
Sophia Antipolis, France
Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today provided Q2 2019 operational highlights, revenue and cash position for Nicox and its subsidiaries (the “Nicox Group”), as well as key upcoming milestones.
Michele Garufi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nicox, said, “Completion of enrollment in the NCX 470 glaucoma trial was a major step in delivering on the strategy for Nicox and keeps us on track for reporting the results of this study in early Q4, along with those of the NCX 4251 blepharitis trial later in the quarter. In preparation for the next steps with these two programs, we are strengthening the development function and have hired Dr. José Boyer into the new position of Vice President of Clinical Development. Our strategic business development activities continue to be fruitful with the recent NCX 4251 licensing deal in China consolidating our partnership there with Ocumension and we are expanding our global licensing efforts outside the US and Europe in order to optimize the value of our portfolio.”
Key Upcoming Milestones
- NCX 470 Phase 2 results: Following completion of enrollment, top-line data from the first efficacy Phase 2 clinical trial for the lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension expected in early Q4 of this year.
- NCX 4251 Phase 2 results: Trial in patients with acute exacerbations of blepharitis continuing on track for top-line data expected in Q4 of this year.
- ZERVIATE partnering outside of the U.S.: Multiple discussions ongoing for potential new licensing agreements in significant markets.
- ZERVIATE U.S. launch: Commercial launch of ZERVIATE (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24% in the U.S. is expected by our partner Eyevance Pharmaceuticals in H1 2020
Second Quarter 2019 and Recent Operational Highlights
- The total number of prescriptions for VYZULTA in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2019 increased by 17% compared to Q1 20191 and by 161% compared to the second quarter 20181.
- Earlier this week we announced that we had completed enrollment of patients in our multicenter, United States (U.S.) Phase 2 clinical study evaluating NCX 470, a novel second generation NO-donating bimatoprost analog, being tested in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension for its ability to lower IOP. This study is a head-to-head comparison of once-daily administration of three different doses of NCX 470 versus latanoprost, which is the most widely prescribed first-line therapy for glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Top-line data of the study is expected early in Q4 of this year.
- In July 2019 we received a $3 million milestone payment from partner Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, triggered by the completion of the regulatory and manufacturing activities under Nicox’s responsibility necessary for the final manufacturing milestone payment in preparation for the launch of ZERVIATE in the U.S. From now on all manufacturing and regulatory responsibilities, together with decisions on launch timing, lie with Eyevance. Eyevance has informed Nicox that the launch of ZERVIATE in the U.S. is currently projected in H1 2020.
- In July 2019 we entered into an exclusive license agreement with Ocumension Therapeutics for the development and commercialization of our product candidate, NCX 4251, currently in a Phase 2 trial in the U.S. in patients with acute exacerbations of blepharitis, for a territory comprising mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Under the terms of the agreement, Nicox received an upfront payment of €2 million and may potentially receive development and sales milestones of up €10 million together with tiered royalties of between 5% and 10% on sales of NCX 4251.
- VYZULTA® (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024%, has now been made available in Canada by our partner Bausch + Lomb, following approval there in December 2018.
- We have amended our bond financing agreement with Kreos Capital signed in January 2019. We have already drawn down €8 million under the agreement. The original agreement allowed for Nicox to draw down a second tranche of €7 million on August 1st, 2019, and a third tranche of €5 million on November 1st, 2019. Under the amendment, Nicox may draw down either €7 million or €12 million on November 1st, 2019, subject to notice to Kreos by October 10th, 2019. Full details of the bond financing agreement can be found in the Press Release of January 25, 2019 – https://www.nicox.com/assets/files/EN-_Kreos-PR_201901.pdf
Strengthening Management in Clinical Development
We appointed José L. Boyer, Ph.D., to the newly-created position of Vice President of Clinical Development, effective June 10, 2019. In this position, Dr. Boyer will be responsible for leading our clinical development activities, and will report to Tomas Navratil, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Head of Development of Nicox. Dr. Boyer has more than 30 years of experience in academic research and drug development in the pharmaceutical industry including senior leadership roles in ophthalmology development at Parion Biosciences and Inspire Pharmaceuticals.
Second Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights
As of June 30, 2019, the Nicox Group had cash and cash equivalents of €17.3 million as compared with €23.5 million at March 31, 2019 and €22.1 million at end December 31, 2018. These cash and cash equivalents do not include the €2 million upfront payment from Ocumension nor the $3 million milestone payment from Eyevance received in July. Net revenue2 for the second quarter of 2019 was €5.2 million versus €0.2 million in the second quarter of 2018
Only figures at 31 December 2018 are audited. All figures of this press release are non-audited.
Notes
1. Bloomberg data, comparing the period of the weeks ending 5 April 2019 to 28 June 2019 with the periods of the weeks ending 4 January 2019 to 29 March 2019 and 6 April 2018 to 29 June 2018
2. Net revenue consists of revenue from collaborations less royalty payments which corresponds to Net profit in the consolidated statements of profit or loss