SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, France, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- http://www.nicox.com -- NicOx S.A. (Eurolist: NICOX) today announced that very good preclinical results on a prototype compound from its ongoing research collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. were reported by the two companies yesterday in an oral presentation at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2006, in Chicago. These results suggest that NicOx’ proprietary nitric oxide-donating technology may have the potential to improve the blood pressure lowering activity of antihypertensive agents.
Ennio Ongini, Vice President of Research at NicOx, commented: “We were honored to present these very encouraging results together with Merck at the American Heart Association meeting. These findings validate the concept of using nitric oxide-donation to augment the efficacy of existing anti- hypertensive agents. We are making good progress in our collaboration and both NicOx and Merck are working hard to advance a candidate into the clinic at the earliest possibility.”
Enalapril, a common anti-hypertensive drug and equimolar doses of NCX 899, a nitric oxide-donating derivative of enalapril, were studied in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats, a validated model of hypertension. NicOx and Merck consider NCX 899 as a prototype compound for demonstrating the increased activity of nitric oxide-donating antihypertensive agents. The compounds were administered orally, once daily, for 7 consecutive days, and blood pressure was measured by continuous 24-hour telemetry monitoring. NCX 899 produced a statistically significant better reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to enalapril when measured on day 7, between 2 and 6 hours post dosing (p<0.05). NCX 899’s blood pressure lowering activity was sustained over the full 7-day administration schedule showing that the nitric oxide-donation of NCX 899 did not induce tolerance. NCX 899 and enalapril caused a similar degree of ACE inhibition. However NCX 899 was associated with a statistically significant increase of basal plasma nitrate/nitrate levels compared to enalapril, suggesting that the sustained and improved activity of NCX 899 is due to nitric oxide donation.
NicOx (Bloomberg: COX.FP, Reuters: NCOX.PA) is a product-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of nitric oxide- donating drugs to meet unmet medical needs. NicOx is targeting the therapeutic areas of pain and inflammation and cardio-metabolic disease. Resources are focused on two lead compounds, naproxcinod (formerly HCT 3012), in phase 3 development for the treatment of osteoarthritis, and NCX 4016, in phase 2 for type 2 diabetes. NicOx has strategic partnerships with some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer Inc. and Merck and Co., Inc.
NicOx S.A. is headquartered in Sophia-Antipolis, France, and is a public company listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris (segment: Next Economy).
The elements included in this communication may contain forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results of the company may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements because of different risks factors described in the company’s document de reference.
CONTACTS:
NicOx: Karl Hanks, Manager of Corporate Relations and Market Analysis, Tel +33 (0)4 97 24 53 42, hanks@nicox.com, www.nicox.com
Investors in the United States - Burns McClellan: Lisa Burns, lburns@burnsmc.com / Laura Siino, lsiino@burnsmc.com, Tel +1 212 213 0006
Financial Dynamics: Jonathan Birt, Tel +1 212 850 56 34, jbirt@fd-us.com / Julia Phillips, Tel +44 (0)20 7831 3113, julia.phillips@fd.com
NicOx S.A.
CONTACT: Karl Hanks, Manager of Corporate Relations and Market Analysis ofNicOx, +33-(0)4-9724-5342, hanks@nicox.com; or Investors in the UnitedStates - Lisa Burns, lburns@burnsmc.com, or Laura Siino,lsiino@burnsmc.com, both of Burns McClellan, +1-212-213-0006; or JonathanBirt, +1-212-850-5634, jbirt@fd-us.com, or Julia Phillips,+44-(0)20-7831-3113, julia.phillips@fd.com, both of Financial Dynamics
Web site: http://www.nicox.com/
