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Promising preclinical data on new compounds for glaucoma presented at ARVO by Nicox
11 May 2015
Novel nitric oxide donors NCX 667 and NCX 470 effective in lowering IOP
Sophia Antipolis, France.
Nicox S.A. (Euronext Paris: FR0000074130, COX), the international ophthalmic company, today announced that promising preclinical results from two novel nitric oxide-donors, NCX 667 and NCX 470, were presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2015 Annual Meeting, held from May 3 to May 7, 2015, in Denver, Colorado.
NCX 667 belongs to a new class of “next-generation” nitric oxide (NO)-donors which are designed to enable optimization of nitric oxide dosing. The ARVO 2015 poster by Bastia et al.1 presented promising new results obtained with NCX 667 in two preclinical models of ocular hypertension and glaucoma. In both models, NCX 667 appeared well-tolerated and effective in reducing intra-ocular pressure (IOP). The importance of the NCX 667 data has been recognized with the selection of the abstract by the ARVO Annual Meeting Program Committee as a ‘Hot Topic’, representing the newest and most innovative research being conducted.
NCX 470 is a novel nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost. Bimatoprost, marketed under the brand name Lumigan®2, is a well-established product in the class of prostaglandin analogs, the leading class of IOP-lowering drugs. The ARVO 2015 presentation by Impagnatiello et al.3 featured promising results from NCX 470 observed in three different preclinical models of ocular hypertension and glaucoma. In all three models, NCX 470 appeared well-tolerated and more effective than equimolar bimatoprost in reducing IOP. Notably, in a preclinical model in which prostaglandin analogs are known to be inactive, NCX 470 lowered IOP suggesting that its nitric oxide-donating moiety produces an IOP-lowering effect.
Dr. Michael Bergamini, Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President at Nicox, commented: “Nicox has an excellent track record of research into nitric oxide donors in ophthalmology, including Vesneo™, which, through our partner Bausch + Lomb, has shown positive phase 3 efficacy results in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Our scientists are now working on other potential next-generation compounds for glaucoma, with two sets of encouraging results announced last week at the ARVO Annual Meeting, the world-leading research conference in ophthalmology. We are particularly encouraged that results from NCX 667 were selected as a ‘Hot Topic’, a distinction which was awarded to a small number of abstracts.”
Several members from Nicox’s leadership team attended the ARVO meeting, including Michele Garufi, Chief Executive Officer, and Michael Bergamini, Chief Scientific Officer, together with the presentation authors.
Nicox has developed a leading position in the therapeutic application of nitric oxide-donating compounds. Nicox’s research platform is focused on ocular diseases where nitric oxide has been shown to play an important role, including glaucoma and retinal diseases such as Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).
