NicOx SA Falls After Failing to Win FDA Panel's Backing Naproxcinod
Chair Dr Kathleen O'Neil MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, summarized the findings of the Advisory Committee meeting, saying there was enthusiasm for the potential of naproxcinod but more data was required from additional safety studies.
The FDA Arthritis Drugs Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Committee based their recommendation on a review of data from the naproxcinod clinical development program, which included 35 clinical studies involving more than 6,500 subjects. The New Drug Application (NDA) file contains data from three large pivotal phase 3 studies, all of which met their co-primary efficacy endpoints.
The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of the Advisory Committee but may take their advice into consideration when evaluating the NDA for naproxcinod. The FDA is expected to make a decision on whether to approve naproxcinod by July 24, 2010.
NicOx submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for naproxcinod to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2009.
Conference calls on Thursday May 13
NicOx will hold a conference call in French on Thursday May 13 at 3:00 pm CET (9:00 am EST - 2:00 pm UK) and another one in English at 4:00 pm CET (10:00 am EST - 3:00 pm UK) to discuss the outcome of the Advisory Committee meeting. Details of these conference calls are available on the Company's website www.nicox.com.
About naproxcinod
Naproxcinod is NicOx's lead investigational compound and the first in a new class of anti-inflammatory agents known as CINODs (Cyclooxygenase- Inhibiting Nitric Oxide Donators). The NDA file is supported by data from a large program of 35 clinical trials that involved more than 6,500 subjects. The program evaluated the efficacy of naproxcinod in relieving signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, as well as its safety, with particular care given to its effect on blood pressure.
In September 2009, NicOx submitted an NDA for naproxcinod, seeking approval for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, which was accepted for filing by the FDA in November 2009. Based on the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), the FDA has set an action date of July 24, 2010. In December 2009, NicOx submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which was validated in January 2010.
About osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of arthritis, is a widespread degenerative disease which affects the joints and causes moderate to severe chronic pain. OA mainly occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips and knees and is associated with the breakdown of cartilage, a material which covers the ends of bones in normal joints. OA is most commonly seen in older people, especially women, and its exact cause is unknown, although heredity factors, previous joint damage and obesity appear to play a role. According to a Datamonitor estimate published in December 2009, OA is estimated to have afflicted over 81 million people in 2009 in the seven major markets (US, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK), including approximately 29 million in the United States alone. Symptomatic treatments commonly used by OA patients include traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors.
Risks factors which are likely to have a material effect on NicOx's business are presented in the 4th chapter of the " Document de reference, rapport financier annuel et rapport de gestion 2009 " filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on March 5, 2010 and available on NicOx's website (www.nicox.com) and on the AMF's website (www.amf-france.org).
The Company notably draws the investors' attention to the following risk factors:
- Risques lies a la dependance de la Societe a l'egard du naproxcinod (Risks related to the Company's dependence on the success of its lead product naproxcinod)
- Risques commerciaux et developpements cliniques (Clinical developments and commercial risk)
- Risques lies aux contraintes reglementaires et a la lenteur des procedures d'approbation (Risks linked to regulatory constraints and slow approval procedures)
- Manque de capacites dans les domaines de la vente et du marketing (Lack of sales and marketing capabilities)
- Incertitude relative aux prix des medicaments et aux regimes de remboursement, ainsi qu'en matiere de reforme des regimes d'assurance maladie (Uncertainty on drug pricing and reimbursement policies and on the reforms of the health insurance systems)
NicOx (Bloomberg: COX:FP, Reuters: NCOX.PA) is a pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and future commercialization of drug candidates. NicOx is applying its proprietary nitric oxide-donating R&D platform to develop an internal portfolio of New Molecular Entities (NME) for the potential treatment of inflammatory, cardio-metabolic and ophthalmological diseases.
NicOx's lead investigational compound is naproxcinod, an NME and a first- in-class CINOD (Cyclooxygenase-Inhibiting Nitric Oxide-Donating) anti- inflammatory drug candidate developed for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), which is currently under review by regulatory authorities, following the submission and filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The FDA has set an action date of July 24, 2010, under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). The FDA and the EMA are evaluating the data submitted. NicOx does not wish to make any claims in regard to naproxcinod's safety or efficacy prior to its potential approvals.
In addition to naproxcinod, NicOx's pipeline includes several nitric oxide- donating NMEs, which are in development internally and with partners, including Merck & Co., Inc. and Bausch + Lomb, for the treatment of hypertension, cardiometabolic diseases, widespread eye diseases and dermatological diseases.
NicOx S.A. is headquartered in France and is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment B: Mid Caps).
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of NicOx S.A. to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on NicOx S.A.'s website (http://www.nicox.com).
CONTACTS: www.nicox.com NicOx: Gavin Spencer Vice President Business Development Tel +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00 - communications@nicox.com
Media Relations Financial Dynamics
Europe Guillaume Granier (France) - Tel: +33 (0)1 47 03 68 10 - guillaume.granier@fd.com
Stephanie Bia (France) - Tel: +33 (0)1 47 03 68 10 - stephanie.bia@fd.com
Jonathan Birt (UK) - Tel +44 (0)20 7269 7205 - jonathan.birt@fd.com
United States Robert Stanislaro - Tel +1 212 850 5657 - robert.stanislaro@fd.com
Irma Gomez-Dib - Tel +1 212 850 5761 - irma.gomez-dib@fd.com
NicOx S.A., Les Taissounieres - Bat HB4 - 1681 route des Dolines - BP313, 06906 Sophia Antipolis cedex, France. Tel. +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00 - Fax +33 (0)4 97 24 53 99
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SOURCE: NICOX
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