Nicox Announces 2019 Financial Results and 2020 Key Milestones


Press Release
Nicox Announces 2019 Financial Results and 2020 Key Milestones
 

  • Increase of net royalties by 105%
  • Cash position of €28.1 million as of December 31, 2019
 

March 6, 2020 – release at 7:30 am CET
Sophia Antipolis, France

Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced the financial and operating results for Nicox and its subsidiaries (the “Nicox Group”) for the year ended December 31, 2019, as approved by the Board of Directors on March 5, 2020, and provided upcoming 2020 key milestones.

2019 Financial Summary

Net revenueP1P for the full year 2019 was €6.9 million (€2.1 million in net royalties, €4.8 million in upfront and milestone payments), compared to €4.0 million (€1 million in net royalties and €3 million in an upfront payment) for the full year 2018. 

Operating expenses for the period 2019 decreased to €25.5 million from €26.5 million for the 12 months to December 31, 2018.  Research and development expenses increased by €1.4 million reflecting the investments in the successful clinical trials for NCX 470 and NCX 4251 while administrative and other expenses decreased by €2.4 million.

Net loss of the Nicox Group for the full year 2019 was €18.9 million against €18.4 million in the full year 2018.

As of December 31, 2019, the Nicox Group had cash and cash equivalents of €28.1 million as compared with €22.1 million at December 31, 2018.  The December 31, 2019 cash position does not include the last tranche of loan under the bond financing agreement with Kreos Capital which was drawn down in December 2019 but received on January 2, 2020, adding approximately €7.7 million to the year-end cash position of the Group. 

As of December 31, 2019, the Nicox Group had a financial debt of €11.1 million in the form of a bond financing agreement with Kreos Capital signed in January 2019 adjusted to approximately €18.8 million by including the last tranche of loan drawn down in December 2019.

Events after the Reporting Period

  • Nicox successfully completed an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (see Press Release of March 5, 2020).  The Mont Blanc trial, the first Phase 3 clinical trial of NCX 470, is expected to start by the end of Q2 2020, with top-line results expected in Q3 2021.  The Mont Blanc trial will be initiated with 0.065% and 0.1% doses of NCX 470, with one dose being selected during the trial through an adaptive design. 
  • Nicox received approval from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of a formulation patent for NCX 470, extending the U.S. patent coverage to 2039 (see Press Release of February 3, 2020).  Nicox has also received approval of this patent in Japan.
  • Nicox presented NCX 470 Dolomites Phase 2 results at the Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum (February 7, 2020) and at the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) Annual Meeting (February 27 – March 1, 2020).  NCX 4251 Danube Phase 2 results were also presented at AGS.
  • Nicox’s research activities are being concentrated on nitric oxide (NO)-donating phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors program for glaucoma for which we expect to be able to announce an Investigational New Drug (IND)-track candidate in 2020 and therefore we are terminating our research collaboration with Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc.
  • We strengthened our Clinical Development function by appointing Kristie Veasey to the position of Director Clinical Operations, effective March 2, 2020.  Reporting to Dr. José Boyer, Vice President of Clinical Development, Ms. Veasey will be responsible for leading clinical operations for some of our upcoming clinical trials.  She brings over 19 years of experience in clinical research and development in both the Pharmaceutical Industry and Clinical Research Organizations, with the majority of her professional experience in the therapeutic area of ophthalmology including at Lexitas Pharma Services, Clearside Biomedical and Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Key Expected Upcoming Milestones

  • NCX 470 Phase 3 clinical trial preparation: Phase 3 clinical trial (‘Mont Blanc’) is expected to be initiated by the end of Q2 2020.
  • NCX 4251: Meeting with the U.S. FDA is scheduled in Q1 2020 to discuss the next steps of the clinical development plan.
  • ZERVIATEPTMP U.S. launch: Commercial launch of ZERVIATEPTMP (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24% in the U.S. is planned by Nicox’s partner Eyevance Pharmaceuticals in H1 2020.
  • Presentations on Nicox’s ophthalmology research and development programs at key U.S. scientific conferences including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Annual Meeting.
Note
 

 1.  Net revenue consists of revenue from collaborations less royalty payments which corresponds to Net profit in the consolidated statements of profit or loss
About Nicox
Nicox S.A. is an international ophthalmology company developing innovative solutions to help maintain vision and improve ocular health.  By leveraging our proprietary expertise in nitric oxide (NO) donation and other technologies, we are developing an extensive portfolio of novel product candidates that target multiple ophthalmic conditions, including glaucoma.  Our portfolio has three programs in development including NCX 470, a novel, second-generation NO-donating bimatoprost analog, for intraocular pressure lowering, based on our proprietary NO-donating research platform and NCX 4251, a proprietary formulation of the well-established molecule fluticasone, for acute exacerbations of blepharitis.  Our research activities are focused on novel future generation NO-donors including NO-donating phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors and NO-donating soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators (in partnership with Cyclerion).  In addition, we have two ophthalmology assets that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); VYZULTA® (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024%, exclusively licensed worldwide to Bausch + Lomb, a Bausch Health Companies Inc. company, and commercialized in the U.S. by Bausch + Lomb since December 2017, as well as ZERVIATE™ (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24%, exclusively licensed in the U.S. to Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, LLC. 

Nicox is headquartered in Sophia Antipolis, France, is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment B: Mid Caps; Ticker symbol: COX) and is part of the CAC Healthcare, CAC Pharma & Bio and Next 150 indexes.

For more information on Nicox, its products or pipeline, please visit: 32Twww.nicox.com.
Analyst coverage
 

Bryan, Garnier & Co    Victor Floc’h  Paris, France
Cantor Fitzgerald    Louise Chen  New York, U.S.
H.C. Wainwright & Co   Yi Chen  New York, U.S.
Oppenheimer & Co    Hartaj Singh  New York, U.S.
 
The views expressed by analysts in their coverage of Nicox are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Nicox.  Additionally, the information contained in their reports may not be correct or current.  Nicox disavows any obligation to correct or to update the information contained in analyst reports.
Contacts
Nicox
Gavin Spencer
Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer
& Head of Corporate Development 
T +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00
32Tcommunications@nicox.com 32T
Investors & Media
United States & Europe
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Hans Herklots
T +41 79 598 71 49 
32Thherklots@lifesciadvisors.com32T
Media
France
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Sophie Baumont
M +33 (0)6 27 74 74 49
32Tsophie@lifesciadvisors.com32T
Forward-Looking Statements
The information contained in this document may be modified without prior notice.  This information includes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.  These statements are based on current expectations or beliefs of the management of Nicox S.A. and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  Nicox S.A. and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents, do not undertake, nor do they have any obligation, to provide updates or to revise any forward-looking statements.

Risks factors which are likely to have a material effect on Nicox’s business are presented in the 4PthP chapter of the ‘Document de référence, rapport financier annuel et rapport de gestion 2018’ filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on March 6, 2019 which are available on Nicox’s website (32Twww.nicox.com32T).
Nicox S.A.
Drakkar 2
Bât D, 2405 route des Dolines
CS 10313, Sophia Antipolis
06560 Valbonne, France
T +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00
F +33 (0)4 97 24 53 99


Consolidated statements of profit or loss 

 As of December 31:
 2019 2018 P(1)P
   
Revenue from collaborations8,260 4,717
Royalty payments(1,405)(690)
Net profit6,8554,027 
Research and development expenditures(17,747)(16,331) 
Administrative expenses(7,666)(9,506) 
Other income9701,786 
Other expenses(85)(644)
Operating loss before amortization of intangible assets(17,673)(20,668) 
Amortization of intangible assets(659)-
Operating loss(18,332)(20,668) 
Finance income2,5652,461 
Finance expense (2)(7,013) (71)
Net financial income, (expense)(4,446)2,390 
   
Loss before tax (22,778) (18,278)
   
Income tax (expense) / benefit3,856(113) 
   
Loss after tax (18,922)(18,391) 
Loss for the period(18,922)(18,391) 
   

     (1)       PFinancial statements as at December 31, 2018 were not restated with adjustments led by the effects of IFRS16 first-time adoption
     (2)       Finance expenses in 2019 included a non-cash item of €(6.1) million reflecting the credit risk asjustement of the loan notes with VISUfarma B.V.
     (3)       Income tax (expense) / benefit in 2019 included  a non-cash item of €3.7 million for the first recognition of deferred tax assets related to ZERVIATE
            

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 
As of December 31:
 2019 2018 P(1)P
ASSETS  
Non-current assets  
Goodwill25,84725,359 
Intangible assets72,12071,397 
Property, plant and equipment1,670269 
Non-Current financial assets (2)11,02315,473 
Total non-current assets110,660112,498 
   
Current assets  
Trade receivables1,069616 
Government grants receivables8641,247 
Other current assets1,297 691
Prepayments8141,479 
Cash and cash equivalents28,10222,059 
Total current assets 32,14626,092 
TOTAL ASSETS142,806138,590 
   
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES  
Shareholders’ equity  
Issued capital33,23129,719 
Share premium518,441510,683 
Cumulative translation adjustement7,8116,697 
Accumulated deficit(450,186)(433,445) 
Total equity109,297 113,653
Non-current liabilities  
Non-current financial liabilities10,16854 
Deferred taxes liabilities12,96416,373 
Provisions549441 
Total non-current liabilities23,68116,868 
Current liabilities  
Current financial liabilities (3)2,48131 
Trade payables4,9964,281 
Deferred income-1,256 
Provisions-76 
Other current liabilities2,351 2,425
Total current liabilities9,8288,069 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY142,806138,590 

                 (1)          PFinancial statements as at December 31, 2018 were not restated with adjustments led by the effects of IFRS16
                 Pfirst-time adoption
                 (2)          Non current financial assets in 2019 included a non-cash item of €(6.1) million reflecting the credit risk asjustement of the loan notes with VISUfarma B.V.
                 (3)          Deferred taxes liabilities were decreased in 2019 by €3.7 million due to the first recognition of deferred tax assets related to ZERVIATE
                         

 

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Attachments

EN_2019 YE results_ 20200506_F