BioWorld International Correspondent

PARIS - Pfizer Inc. initiated a Phase II clinical trial of PF-03187207, a drug candidate for the treatment of glaucoma generated under the New York-based company's collaboration with NicOx SA. That collaboration, into which the two companies entered in August 2004, was aimed at discovering and developing nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin F2-alpha analogs for the treatment of glaucoma.

The launch of this trial follows the FDA's approval of the Investigational New Drug (IND) submitted by Pfizer in February, which resulted in a €1 million milestone payment to NicOx, of Sophia-Antipolis, France.

Pfizer selected PF-03187207 in November 2005 as the lead candidate for development from a series of NO-donating prostaglandin F2-alpha analog compounds synthesized by NicOx. Based on the known activity of nitric oxide, PF-03187207 is designed to reduce high Intraocular Pressure (IOP), since the development of abnormally high IOP, due to blockage or malfunction of systems controlling the amount of fluid in the eye, is believed to be one of the principal causes of glaucoma.

The trial will compare the safety and efficacy of PF-03187207 in relation to latanoprost, and the primary endpoint will be the change in diurnal IOP at day 28.

Including the latest €1 million milestone, NicOx has received a total of €5 million from Pfizer under the 2004 agreement and stands to receive an additional €32 million (US$42.68 million), plus royalties, if the collaboration results in the successful commercial development of a product.

Those sums are in addition to the research funding and potential milestones and royalties due under a second agreement signed between the two companies in March 2006, which granted Pfizer exclusive rights to use NicOx' proprietary technology across the entire field of ophthalmology.