NicOx and Pfizer sign agreement for PF-03187207

Sophia Antipolis, France

-NicOx has signed an agreement with Pfizer to reacquire the full development and commercialization rights to PF-03187207, which has completed two phase II studies in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, according to a prepared statement. As part of the agreement, Pfizer also has granted NicOx the right to access and use certain latanoprost 0.005% (Xalatan) data.

In the phase II studies, which were conducted in the United States and Japan, the two highest doses of PF-03187207 showed an improvement over latanoprost of up to 12%, in terms of the diurnal IOP reduction at day 28 compared with baseline, according to the release. In both the Japanese and U.S. studies, PF-03187207 showed a 20% greater reduction in IOP at 20 hours post-dose compared with latanoprost, suggesting a more sustained IOP-lowering effect. The difference was statistically significant in the U.S. study (

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“We are very pleased with this transaction with NicOx,” said David K. Rosen, head of out licensing, Pfizer. “The two companies have enjoyed a very good relationship throughout this collaboration, and we look forward to supporting NicOx during the transition period. This agreement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to out-license and to allow partner companies to reacquire [research and development] programs that are no longer core to our strategy but could become important medicines for patients and physicians.”

Gavin Spencer, vice president of business development at NicOx, added: “We believe PF-03187207 has good potential to be registered for glaucoma and ocular hypertension and could represent an important new treatment option for the benefit of patients worldwide. We will evaluate opportunities for advancing PF-03187207 into phase III, including possible third-party partnerships. We maintain an excellent relationship with Pfizer and understand its decision to conclude our previous agreements.”

Under the new agreement, NicOx also is regaining rights to a number of novel, research-stage, nitric oxide-donating compounds for the potential treatment of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, according to the release.

The agreement supersedes and concludes NicOx’s previous August 2004 and March 2006 agreements with Pfizer and follows the receipt of the last annual research funding of 3 million euros by NicOx in March 2008, according to the statement.