| Indication | Open-angle glaucoma, Ocular hypertension |
| Drug | NCX 470 |
| Mechanism of Action | Nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin analog |
| Company | Nicox SA |
| Trial Phase | Phase 3 |
| Trial Acronym | Denali |
| Category | Regulatory Milestone |
| Sub Category | Regulatory Submission Filed |
| Revenue 2025 | €16.8 million |
| Revenue 2024 | €7.9 million |
| Net Loss 2025 | €2.4 million |
| Net Loss 2024 | €22.4 million |
| Operating Expenses 2025 | €14.3 million |
| Operating Expenses 2024 | €18.7 million |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents (as of Dec 31, 2025) | €4.1 million |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents (as of Dec 31, 2024) | €10.5 million |
| U.S. NDA Submission Target | Summer 2026 |
| China NDA Submission Target | Shortly after U.S. submission |
| Japan Phase 3 Program Initiation | Summer 2025 |
| Cash Runway Projection | Beyond 2027 |
| NCX 470 License Partner (ex-China/SEA) | Kowa |
| NCX 470 License Partner (China/SEA) | Ocumension Therapeutics |
| VYZULTA License Partner | Bausch + Lomb |
| ZERVIATE U.S. License Partner | Harrow, Inc. |
| ZERVIATE China/SEA License Partner | Ocumension Therapeutics |
| Preclinical Program Drug | NCX 1728 |
| NCX 1728 Partner | Glaukos |
| Headquarters Location | Sophia Antipolis, France |
| Stock Exchange | Euronext Growth Paris |
| Ticker Symbol | ALCOX |
Nicox Reports Strong 2025 Financials and Advances NCX 470 Submissions
Nicox SA reported its full-year 2025 financial results, demonstrating a significant improvement with revenue reaching €16.8 million, up from €7.9 million in 2024, and a net loss substantially reduced to €2.4 million from €22.4 million in the prior year. This financial turnaround was primarily driven by milestone payments from NCX 470 license agreements and reduced operating expenses following the completion of the Phase 3 Denali trial. The company is on track to submit the New Drug Application for NCX 470 in the U.S. by summer 2026, with a China submission to follow, and anticipates these regulatory milestones will extend its cash runway beyond 2027.
- Nicox achieved a substantial financial turnaround in 2025, with revenue more than doubling to €16.8 million and a net loss significantly reduced to €2.4 million. This improvement was supported by milestone payments from NCX 470 licensing and a reduction in operating expenses. The company also strengthened its financial position by eliminating secured debt, removing long-term obligations, and improving its cash position.
- The lead late-stage program, NCX 470, a novel nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost eye drop for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, is progressing rapidly towards regulatory submissions. The U.S. New Drug Application is expected by summer 2026, followed shortly by the China NDA. Additionally, a Phase 3 clinical program for NCX 470 was initiated in Japan in summer 2025, underscoring the global development strategy for this key asset.
- Nicox projects its cash runway to extend beyond 2027, supported by anticipated regulatory milestone payments for NCX 470 and ongoing cost control measures. The company is actively exploring strategic opportunities, including collaborations and business combinations, to maximize shareholder value and secure new long-term revenue streams, building on the positive momentum from its 2025 performance and pipeline advancements.
NCX 470's Path to Regulatory Submission: Key Phase 3 Data
Recent clinical studies have demonstrated diverse therapeutic approaches for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, ranging from novel drug combinations to minimally invasive surgical interventions. These investigations provide valuable insights into treatment optimization and patient outcomes across different populations and settings.
| Study | Intervention | Key Efficacy Outcomes | Key Safety Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| J-ROCKET-2 (2026) | Netarsudil 0.02% + latanoprost 0.005% vs placebo + latanoprost | Mean diurnal IOP: 15.29 mmHg vs 17.65 mmHg at week 4 (difference -2.36, p<0.0001) | 64.8% AEs with combination vs 21.0% placebo; conjunctival hyperemia most common (53.3% vs 6.5%); no serious AEs |
| SKIBI Study (2026) | Five MIGS techniques with phacoemulsification | All procedures achieved significant IOP and medication reduction at 6 months; Suture-GATT showed greatest IOP reduction (6.41±2.05 mmHg) | iStent-based procedures had lowest complication rates |
| PreserFlo MicroShunt (2026) | Sutureless PreserFlo MicroShunt with fibrin glue | Mean IOP decreased from 34.9±16.5 mmHg to 11.3±3.8 mmHg at 6 months; medications reduced from 3.3 to 0.1 | Transient hypotony (n=1), tube exposure (n=1), macrohyphema (n=3); no glue-related complications |
| Fixed Combination Study (2025) | TDB-L vs TD-L combination therapy | TDB-L: 6.3 mmHg IOP reduction vs TD-L: 4.5 mmHg reduction by day 60 (p=0.042) | 15% moderate conjunctival hyperemia in TD-L group; no drug-related AEs in either group |
| Hydrus Microstent (2025) | Hydrus Microstent with cataract extraction | Sustained IOP reduction: -1.9 mmHg at 6 months to -1.2 mmHg at 4 years; medication reduction 1.2 to 0.5 over time | Transient IOP spike ≥30 mmHg in 2 eyes; no sight-threatening complications |
| iTrack Canaloplasty (2025) | Ab-interno canaloplasty with/without phacoemulsification | IOP reduced from 18.3±4.3 to 14.6±3.2 mmHg; 95% medication-free vs 0% at baseline | Transient IOP spike in 2 eyes only; no sight-threatening complications or additional procedures |
Overcoming Current Limitations in Open-Angle Glaucoma Treatment
Current glaucoma treatment faces significant barriers that impact both patient outcomes and quality of life. Despite advances in therapeutic options, fundamental challenges persist across medical management, diagnostic approaches, and treatment accessibility that limit optimal care delivery.
• Poor medication adherence and tolerability - Glaucoma medications cause severe local and systemic adverse effects, have short duration of action, and result in poor patient compliance, with adherence issues directly associated with faster disease progression
• Ocular surface complications - Medical therapy frequently causes quality-of-life decrease through side effects, particularly ocular surface disease from preservative-containing medications, with generic variants showing more ocular side effects compared to brand formulations
• High rates of underdiagnosis - The asymptomatic nature of glaucoma, combined with lack of screening programs and scarce diagnostic resources, results in the disease remaining undetected in approximately half of affected patients
• Limited surgical accessibility - Early surgical approaches face significant barriers due to waiting lists and restricted healthcare capacity, while selective laser trabeculoplasty remains underutilized as first-line treatment despite demonstrated safety
• Insufficient evidence for complementary therapies - Alternative treatments including lifestyle modifications, neuroprotective substances, and complementary therapies show minimal IOP reduction effects and lack robust evidence for routine clinical use
• Delivery system limitations - Non-invasive drug-eluting systems have not reached market, only two FDA-approved intracameral implants exist due to corneal safety concerns, and sustained-release formulations require additional safety data for repeated administration
• Complex treatment decision-making - The introduction of innovative diagnostic tools and newer medications has increased treatment complexity, making clinical decision-making more challenging for practitioners
Benchmarking NCX 470: The Nitric Oxide-Donating Landscape
NCX 470 represents part of an emerging class of nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin analogues for glaucoma treatment. The primary comparator in this therapeutic space is latanoprostene bunod (LBN), which shares the same dual mechanism of action approach.
| Drug | NO-Donating Base | Development Status | Key Trial Design Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCX 470 | Bimatoprost derivative | Phase 3 | Prospective, randomized, adaptive dose-selection, double-masked, parallel-group trial; 691 subjects with OAG/OHT; interim analysis for dose selection |
| Latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta™) | Latanoprost derivative | FDA approved (November 2017) | 0.024% concentration demonstrated superior IOP-lowering vs latanoprost 0.005% and timolol 0.5% |
NCX 470: A Dual-Action Advance in Glaucoma Management
The recent financial update from Nicox SA, highlighting significant revenue growth and a reduced net loss driven by NCX 470, signals a pivotal moment for the company and the broader ophthalmology landscape. With the New Drug Application for NCX 470 on track for submission in the U.S. by summer 2026, the stage is set for a potential new entrant in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
NCX 470 stands out due to its innovative dual mechanism of action. As a nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost, it leverages both prostaglandin F2α and nitric oxide/cGMP signaling pathways to enhance aqueous humor outflow through both the uveoscleral and trabecular meshwork/Schlemm's canal routes. This dual approach has translated into compelling clinical data, with Phase 2 and 3 studies demonstrating statistically superior intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering compared to latanoprost, a current first-line therapy. This enhanced efficacy could offer a more robust solution for patients struggling to achieve target IOP levels.
Beyond IOP reduction, preclinical research suggests an intriguing additional benefit: retinal cell protection and improved ocular hemodynamics. Studies indicate NCX 470 can reverse ischemia/reperfusion injury effects, potentially mitigating oxidative stress and apoptosis in the retina. If these neuroprotective effects are confirmed in clinical settings, NCX 470 could offer a unique advantage by not only controlling IOP but also directly addressing factors contributing to visual field loss, a critical unmet need in glaucoma management.
However, as with any new therapy, considerations remain. While NCX 470 has been generally well-tolerated, conjunctival hyperemia was the most common adverse event, a factor that can influence patient compliance. Furthermore, the translation of preclinical neuroprotective findings into tangible clinical benefits for human patients requires further investigation. Despite these points, NCX 470's strong clinical profile and dual mechanism position it as a significant potential advancement, offering a new horizon for glaucoma therapy that could improve patient outcomes beyond current standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
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