Nicox Updates on Corporate, Pipeline and Financing Perspectives and
Will Hold a Webcast on March 18, 2024
Press Release
Nicox Updates on Corporate, Pipeline and
Financing Perspectives and Will Hold a Webcast on March 18,
2024
-
Focusing resources on the clinical development of Nicox’s
lead program NCX 470 in glaucoma
- NCX 470
Denali Phase 3 trial in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular
hypertension on track to generate topline results in H2
2025
-
Objective of securing financing to support clinical
development of NCX 470
-
Implementing cost reductions and exploring developing other
assets through collaborations
- Webcast
(in French) to be held on March 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm CET; additional
details to follow
March 13, 2024 – release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis,
France
Nicox SA (Euronext Growth
Paris: FR0013018124, ALCOX), an international ophthalmology
company, today provided an update on its corporate and development
strategy, in the context of its debt restructuring and the
appointment of Gavin Spencer as Chief Executive Officer and
announced it will be holding a Webcast (in French) on March 18,
2024 at 6:00 pm CET. Further details on the webcast will be sent
shortly.
“Nicox is focusing its resources on the Denali
Phase 3 pivotal trial of its lead asset NCX 470 in glaucoma. This
trial, which we are conducting with our long-term Chinese partner
Ocumension Therapeutics, is on track with 80% of the target number
of patients already randomized. We expect topline results in H2
2025 and expect that these will be supportive of future regulatory
approval and partnering in the U.S. and other territories. We are
reducing costs, including the size of the organization, and are
exploring advancing NCX 1728, through collaborations. Our licensed,
marketed products, VYZULTA and ZERVIATE, are generating royalty
revenues for Nicox. With an experienced team delivering on the
Denali trial, we are also focused on putting financing in place to
complete the debt restructuring and to deliver on the promise of
our innovative treatment NCX 470,” said Gavin Spencer,
Chief Executive Officer of Nicox. “We maintain
constructive relationships with potential licensing and strategic
partners for NCX 470 in the U.S and other territories outside of
those already partnered and continue to update them on the
status.”
Update on Development
Pipeline
- NCX 470, our
lead clinical asset, is a novel nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost
eye drop. The Denali Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating NCX 470 for
the lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with
open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, being conducted in the
U.S. and China, is on track to generate topline results in H2
2025. 80% of the target number of patients have been
randomized in the trial and completion of recruitment of U.S.
patients is expected in Q4 2024. Supportive development data
required for the preparation of the U.S. New Drug Application (NDA)
is expected to be available on or before the completion of the
Denali trial. The database from the trial will not be locked until
after the last patient has completed their final trial visit in
China, which drives the timing of the Denali results.
The Whistler Phase 3b trial investigating the
dual mechanism of action of NCX 470 in IOP lowering is underway and
results are expected in Q1 2025. The Phase 3b optical coherence
tomography (OCT) trial to investigate the potential benefits of NCX
470 on the retina is not included in the current plan, however this
development will be revisited when finances allow. Neither of the
two Phase 3b trials are required for an NDA submission in either
the U.S. or China. The potential of NCX 470 has been validated by
our established partnerships with Ocumension and more recently with
Kowa, for China and Japan respectively. With the completion of the
Denali trial, Nicox expects to be in a position to partner NCX 470
for commercialization in the U.S. and potentially other
territories. Mont Blanc and Denali trials have been designed to
fulfill the regulatory requirements for safety and efficacy Phase 3
trials to support NDA submissions in both the U.S. and in China,
where NCX 470 is exclusively licensed to Ocumension.
- NCX 1 728, an
NO-donating phosphodiesterase-5 (NO-PDE5) inhibitor, is a
preclinical asset with potential for development in retinal
conditions. The United States Patent Office (USPTO) recently issued
the Notice of Allowance for the patent covering NO-PDE5 inhibitors
including NCX1728, with an expiry date in 2039. Nonclinical data
have demonstrated potential for the development of NCX 1728 in a
number of ophthalmic conditions and we are exploring continuing the
development of this product candidate through partnerships.
- NCX 4251, a
novel suspension of fluticasone propionate nanocrystals, is at
development stage for dry eye disease. The Company has agreed a
development plan with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
for a Phase 3 program in dry eye disease, and this asset is
available for partnering outside China. NCX 4251 is licensed to
Ocumension in China who are currently reviewing the pharmaceutical
development activities which would be needed to enter in clinical
trials in China.
Update on Revenue Generating
Products
- Historically,
Nicox has been generating and reporting royalty revenues from the
sales of its products by its partners, primarily Bausch + Lomb for
the commercialization of VYZULTA®, and from upfront and milestone
payments from its licensing agreements. We expect to add to this
the royalty revenue from Ocumension from the commercialization of
ZERVIATE® in China this year and, in the future, from the
commercialization of NCX 470 by Ocumension and Kowa, by its future
partners in the U.S. and potentially other territories. Nicox
estimates annual global net sales of NCX 470 could be over $300
million1 within 8 years of the date of launches in the U.S. and
China.
- VYZULTA – Nicox
continues to receive royalties on net sales of VYZULTA. Bausch +
Lomb, exclusive worldwide partner of Nicox, reported 35% revenue
growth for VYZULTA in 2023. VYZULTA is commercialized by Bausch +
Lomb in more than 15 countries and territories, including the U.S.,
and is also approved in a number of other countries. VYZULTA is
indicated for the reduction of IOP in patients with open-angle
glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
- ZERVIATE – Our
forecasts assume that the majority of the ZERVIATE revenue will
come from the sales of ZERVIATE in China by our exclusive Chinese
partner Ocumension. ZERVIATE is expected to be approved in China
shortly, following submission of the NDA there in April
2023. Ocumension forecasts peak annual net sales of
over $100 million within 7 years of launch in China. ZERVIATE is
also currently commercialized in the U.S. for ocular itching
associated with allergic conjunctivitis by Harrow, Inc. In January
2024, Nicox expanded the territory of the exclusive licensing
agreement with Harrow, Inc., to include Canada. No payment was
associated with the extension of the territory, and Nicox would
receive royalties on any net sales of ZERVIATE in Canada. ZERVIATE
forms part of Harrow’s recent agreement with Apotex for
Canada.
Update on Cash Runway
The Company is financed to at least November
2024, based on focusing exclusively on the development of NCX
470. The Company is pursuing business development
discussions, including the sale or license of certain assets, and
exploring multiple strategic options which could further extend the
cash runway. The Company is evaluating all options for financing
and will use the most appropriate at the time.
As of February 28, 2024, Nicox had a total
amount of debt2 of €18.2 million consisting of €16.9 million debt
outstanding from Kreos Capital VI (UK) Limited (an affiliate of
BlackRock) and a €1.3 million of non-dilutive loan facility credit
agreement guaranteed by the French state related to the COVID-19
pandemic.
About Nicox
Nicox SA is an international ophthalmology
company developing innovative solutions to help maintain vision and
improve ocular health. Nicox’s lead program in clinical development
is NCX 470, a novel nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost eye drop, for
lowering intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma
or ocular hypertension. Nicox generates revenue from VYZULTA® in
glaucoma, licensed exclusively worldwide to Bausch + Lomb, and
ZERVIATE® in allergic conjunctivitis, licensed in multiple
geographies, including to Harrow, Inc. in the U.S., and Ocumension
Therapeutics in the Chinese and in the majority of Southeast Asian
markets.
Nicox, headquartered in Sophia Antipolis,
France, is listed on Euronext Growth Paris (Ticker symbol: ALCOX)
and is part of the CAC Healthcare index.
For more information www.nicox.com.
Analyst coverage
Bryan, Garnier & Co
Eric
Yoo Paris,
FranceH.C. Wainwright &
Co Yi
Chen New York,
U.S.
The views expressed by analysts in their
coverage of Nicox are those of the author and do not reflect the
views of Nicox. Additionally, the information contained in their
reports may not be correct or current. Nicox disavows any
obligation to correct or to update the information contained in
analyst reports.Contacts
NicoxGavin SpencerChief Executive Officer T +33
(0)4 97 24 53 00communications@nicox.com |
Media / InvestorsSophie BaumontCohesion Bureau+33
6 27 74 74 49sophie.baumont@cohesionbureau.com |
Forward-Looking Statements
The information contained in this document may
be modified without prior notice. This information includes
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on
current expectations or beliefs of the management of Nicox S.A. and
are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those described in
the forward-looking statements. Nicox S.A. and its affiliates,
directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents, do not
undertake, nor do they have any obligation, to provide updates or
to revise any forward-looking statements.
Risks factors which are likely to have a
material effect on Nicox’s business are presented in section 2.7 of
the “Rapport Annuel 2022” and in section 4 of the “Rapport
semestriel financier et d’activité 2023” which are available on
Nicox’s website (www.nicox.com).
Nicox S.A.Sundesk Sophia Antipolis, Bâtiment C,
Emerald Square, Rue Evariste Galois, 06410 Biot, FranceT +33 (0)4
97 24 53 00
1 See Press Release of 10 July 2023
2 This figure is the contractual amount of the
debt which is different from that reported under accounting
standards. It does not include the premium of €2.4
million due to BlackRock upon repayment of the non-amortizing,
non-convertible bond, which would be paid on January1st, 2026 at
the earliest. Nor does it include the Armistice put option granted
in the November 2022 equity financing, payable in the case of a
merger by acquisition (fusion par absorption), merger (fusion par
création d’une nouvelle société), division (scission), or a change
of control within the meaning assigned in article L.233-3 I of the
French commercial code (Code de commerce) where the consideration
for such transaction is Nicox shares at a value of less than €1.70,
the exercise price of the warrants, Armistice can request that
Nicox purchases the warrants granted to Armistice at their Black
Scholes value (using pre-defined terms). This figure will no longer
be reported following the Company’s decision to change from
Consolidated Financial Statements under IFRS to statutory financial
statements under French Gaap.
- EN_Nicox-Strategy PR_20240313_F
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