BRIEF—NicOx and Fera Pharma amend collaboration on naproxcinod

France-based ophthalmics firm NicOx and Fera Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held, US specialty pharmaceutical company, have amended their 2015 license agreement, which granted Fera exclusive rights to develop and commercialize naproxcinod for the US market.

The development of naproxcinod will now focus on an undisclosed rare disease, for which Fera expects to seek an orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Naproxcinod, a cyclooxygenase-inhibiting nitric oxide (NO)-donating (CINOD) naproxen, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory product candidate originally discovered and developed by NicOx.

Under the amended agreement, NicOx will now be eligible to potentially receive a single $40 million, sales-based milestone if naproxcinod reaches $1 billion yearly sales (for any indication) in the USA.

This milestone would be payable only once, and the royalties remain unchanged at 7% of net sales of naproxcinod in the USA.

Other than as specified in the amendment, Fera remains responsible for all clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization activities.