Nicox SA announced that new nonclinical data on NCX 470 (0.1%) demonstrating greater intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering than Lumigan® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.01%) upon both single and repeated (5-day) dosing in an in vivo nonclinical model has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. The publication also includes outflow data on NCX 470 in a different in vivo non clinical model and on NCX 470 compared to equimolar bimatoprost in in vitro human trabecular meshwork/Schlemm?s canal constructs suggesting that NCX 470-mediated increase in outflow facility and uveoscleral outflow accounts for the robust IOP reduction exerted by this compound. NCX 470, a novel nitric oxide (NO)-donating bimatoprost eyedrop, is in Phase 3 clinical development for the lowering of IOP in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

NCX 470 is designed to release both bimatoprost and NO into the eye to lower IOP by two pathways. Lumigan, marketed by Allergan Inc., is the leading branded product by sales in the class of prostaglandin analogs, the most widely used class of drugs for IOP-lowering in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. IOP lowering was measured in ocular normotensive beagle dogs following either single or repeat once-daily morning dosing over 5 consecutive days, in an open-label crossover design, of either NCX 470 (0.1%), Lumigan® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.01%) or vehicle.

After single-dosing, NCX 470 demonstrated greater IOP reduction than Lumigan at most timepoints tested up to 24 hours post-dosing, with the greatest difference seen at 5 hours.   In the repeat dosing study, the effects of both NCX 470 and Lumigan were generally stable throughout the period of the study, with NCX 470 showing consistently greater IOP reduction than Lumigan® at all timepoints tested. Aqueous humor dynamics were studied in ocular normotensive non-human primates treated in a crossover design with either NCX 470 or vehicle over 4 days. Measurements were taken on the fourth day and demonstrated that NCX 470 increased both outflow facility and uveoscleral outflow compared to vehicle.

Aqueous humor outflow was also investigated in human trabecular meshwork/Schlemm?s canal constructs treated with equimolar NCX 470 or bimatoprost, or vehicle. Outflow facility was increased by both NCX 470 and bimatoprost compared to vehicle, with NCX 470 having a greater effect than bimatoprost.