NicOx forms strategic alliance with Ferrer in dermatology
NicOx, an emerging French pharmaceutical company based in Sophia Antipolis, has signed a licensing and co-development agreement with Ferrer for the research, development and marketing of certain new steroid derivatives for the treatment of dermatological diseases in selected markets.
NicOx, an emerging French pharmaceutical company based in Sophia Antipolis, has signed a licensing and co-development agreement with Ferrer for the research, development and marketing of certain new steroid derivatives for the treatment of dermatological diseases in selected markets.
NicOx is involved in the research and development of nitric oxide-donating drugs with superior efficacy and safety profiles in the inflammation, pain and cardiovascular therapeutic areas.
NCX 1022 has been selected as the lead compound in this collaboration, and NicOx will receive undisclosed development milestones and commercial success fees plus royalties on any sales of products resulting from the agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, NicOx will be responsible for the initial synthesis of the new compounds, while Ferrer will be responsible for and fund all further development activities through to registration. Ferrer will have marketing rights for the EU (including EFTA), Latin America and French-speaking Africa (including Morocco and Algeria) and Egypt. NicOx will retain a right to co-market products directly in the European Union and EFTA. NicOx retains all rights for the US and Asia. A joint development committee will coordinate and oversee all research and development activities.
Michele Garufi, chairman and ceo of NicOx, said: 'Ferrer is an ideal partner for the development of NCX 1022 and other nitric oxide-releasing steroids because of its established expertise and presence in the field of dermatology. This partnership will help to maximise the value of our dermatology portfolio while retaining our direct marketing rights in Europe in specialist therapeutic areas.'
NicOx has also announced the successful completion of a Phase IIa clinical study of NCX 1022 ointment for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. NCX 1022 showed statistically significant improvement in clinical efficacy symptoms including erythema, scaling and pruritis in 40 patients with seborrheic dermatitis treated for 28 days. Furthermore tolerability was excellent, NCX 1022 showing no difference versus placebo in terms of local skin tolerability. NCX 1022 is designed to have potent anti-inflammatory activity combined with a significantly improved safety and tolerability profile, in particular the absence of skin blanching after repeated use.