NicOx, Merck to collaborate on antihypertensive drug development

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., March 21 - NicOx SA and Merck & Co., Inc. said they have agreed to collaborate on the development of new antihypertensive drugs using NicOx's proprietary nitric oxide-donating technology.

The agreement covers nitric oxide-donating derivatives of several major classes of antihypertensive agents for the treatment of high blood pressure, complications of hypertension, and other cardiovascular and related disorders, according to a company news release.

Under the new agreement, NicOx will receive an upfront payment of $11.2 million, with potential further milestone payments of $340.2 million.

NicOx has the option to co-promote, on a fee-for-detail basis, products that result from the agreement to specialist physicians in the United States and certain European countries.

Merck will pay NicOx industry standard royalties on the sales of all products resulting from the collaboration.

In addition, Merck has the exclusive right to develop and commercialize antihypertensives that use NicOx's nitric oxide-donating technology for the treatment of systemic hypertension, the release stated.

NicOx will focus on the new research program and identifying lead candidates for development, while Merck will fund and manage all preclinical and clinical development.

"We believe nitric oxide donation offers the potential for delivering antihypertensive agents with improved efficacy," said Ennio Ongini, vice president of research at NicOx, in the release.

"The results obtained in our joint research collaboration with Merck validate the concept that nitric oxide donation enhances antihypertensive activity. We look forward to seeing this important program enter the clinic as soon as possible, following the signature of this new agreement with Merck."

Merck is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company based in Whitehouse Station, N.J.

NicOx is a product-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of nitric oxide-donating drugs to meet unmet medical needs. The company is based in Sophia-Antipolis, France.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.