BioWorld International Correspondent

PARIS - NicOx SA and Biolipox AB are expanding their research collaboration covering nitric oxide-donating drugs for the treatment of respiratory diseases to include other pathologies as well.

The research and co-development agreement signed by the companies in June 2001 provided for NicOx, of Sophia-Antipolis, France, to synthesize a series of NO-releasing compounds for preclinical evaluation by Stockholm, Sweden-based Biolipox, using its expertise in the characterization of the mechanisms of airway diseases and the screening of compounds for treating them.

The companies have finished screening an initial series of compounds and now will embark on the evaluation of a second series of compounds. This time they will not be solely in the area of respiratory diseases but also will encompass compounds for the treatment of inflammation and pain, two other therapeutic fields in which Biolipox specializes.

Under their agreement, the companies plan to take the lead compounds that emerge from the screening process into clinical development, sharing research and development costs as well as revenues from the commercialization of successful products.

The decision to broaden the collaboration reflects the success of the research program so far, as NicOx's director of corporate relations, Sylvain Goyon, pointed out, which implies that one or more compounds from the first series have been retained as candidates for clinical development. But Goyon told BioWorld International that he could not say more at this stage, although he indicated that clinical trials of an initial lead could get under way this year.

While the companies will share the revenues from any products that reach the market, Goyon stressed that NicOx would retain full intellectual property rights to all products emanating from this collaboration. Research collaborations were a cost-effective method for NicOx to optimize its IP portfolio, he said, since the company had too many compounds in its portfolio and needed the expertise of third parties to help identify those with the best pharmacological profiles and greatest therapeutic potential.