Nicox continues expansion of international distribution network with exclusive agreement for Australia and New Zealand

Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, France, Oct. 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This press release is being re-issued with a corrected forward-looking statement.
Nicox continues expansion of international distribution network with exclusive agreement for Australia and New Zealand

Nicox S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris: COX), the international ophthalmic company, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with OptiMed, a leading Australian company distributing ophthalmic diagnostic and therapeutic products, for the distribution of its product portfolio, including AdenoPlus^® and the Xailin(TM) range, in Australia and New Zealand. This further strengthens Nicox's rapidly-growing international operations, with third-party agreements already established in Japan, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Poland, Turkey and a number of countries in southern Africa.

"Our international product revenues are beginning to grow rapidly as we expand our network of best-in-class partners," said Philippe Masquida, Executive Vice-President, Managing Director of European and International Operations at Nicox Pharma. "The finalization of the collaboration with OptiMed for the distribution of our products in Australia and New Zealand follows the recent partnership on AdenoPlus with Nitto Medic in Japan. Since the beginning of the year, we have established partnerships in more than 10 countries with well-established local players, complementing our own sales infrastructure in selected markets. We expect distribution partnerships to play a key role in our revenue growth, in both established and fast-growing emerging markets."

Since the beginning of 2014, Nicox has signed a number of exclusive distribution agreements for its growing international product portfolio, with Medano AG in Switzerland; Simovision in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg); Liba Laboratuarlari A.S. in Turkey; Genop Healthcare in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe; and OptiMed in Australia and New Zealand. Nicox has also signed an exclusive distribution agreement for AdenoPlus^® with Nitto Medic in Japan. In Poland, Nicox has appointed Sopharm to manage pre-marketing and market access activities. Nicox is working on securing distribution agreements in other key international markets in Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Middle-East.

Except for the agreement with Nitto Medic which is just focused on AdenoPlus^®, these distribution agreements generally concern the full range of Nicox products (outside of North America), both marketed and in development, including: several in vitro diagnostic medical devices in-licensed from RPS^®, such as AdenoPlus^® to aid in the differential diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis; Xailin(TM), a range of tear lubricants for the relief of dry eye symptoms (classed as medical devices); and future products from Nicox's internal development program. Nicox currently markets AdenoPlus^® and the Xailin(TM) range with its own sales force in the five main European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK).

About Nicox

Nicox (Bloomberg: COX:FP, Reuters: NCOX.PA) is an emerging international company focused on the ophthalmic market. With a heritage of innovative R&D, business development and commercial expertise, the Nicox team is building a diversified portfolio of therapies and diagnostic tools that can help people to enhance their sight. The Company's commercial portfolio and near-term pipeline already include several innovative diagnostic tests intended for eye care professionals, as well as a range of eye care products. Nicox's key proprietary asset in ophthalmology is latanoprostene bunod, a novel compound based on Nicox's proprietary nitric oxide (NO)-donating R&D platform, currently in Phase 3 clinical development in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for the potential treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Further NO-donors are under development, notably through partners.

Nicox is headquartered in France, with research capabilities in Italy, a growing commercial infrastructure in North America and in the major European markets and an expanding international presence through partners. Nicox S.A. is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment B: Mid Caps). For more information on Nicox or its products please visit www.nicox.com.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.

Risks factors which are likely to have a material effect on Nicox's business are presented in the 4^th chapter of the "Document de référence, rapport financier annuel et rapport de gestion 2013" filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on April 2^nd, 2014, in the "Rapport semestriel financier et d'activité au 30 juin 2014" and in the 5^th chapter of the "Actualisation du Document de Référence 2013" filed on September 30, 2014 (D. 14-0271-A01), available on Nicox's website ( www.nicox.com ).

Press release http://hugin.info/143509/R/1861814/652903.pdf

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