Dive Brief:
- Vesneo (latanoprostene bunod), a nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin F2-alpha analog, was developed by the French company Nicox and licensed to Valeant/Bausch & Lomb (B&L).
- B&L plans to submit an application for Vesneo to the FDA in mid-2015. Nicox would like to co-promote Vesneo in Europe.
- Nicox is continuing to build a strong ophthalmology franchise with its recent $6.7 million acquisition of the Carregelose (iota-carrageenan) anti-viral eye drop development program from Austria-based Marinomed.
Dive Insight:
Nicox shareholders were certainly excited about the recent news from the glaucoma clinical study -- but even beyond the trial, the company has a lot going on in the way of recent and planned acquisitions.
The Carragelose deal is worth $6.72 million. In addition, Nicox just bought another French ophthalmic specialist company -- Doliage -- for $6.34 million. Next month, Nicox shareholders are voting on yet another acquisition, this time of U.S.-based Aciex Therapeutics, an ophthalmic specialist company.