Partnering a revival story

NicOx S.A.'s naproxcinod has had trouble getting out of the starting gate, as former partner AstraZeneca plc dropped development in 2003 based on equivocal Phase II data. But NicOx always thought the nitrosylated naproxen non-steroidal anti-inflammatory was worth saving. Now, as the company last month recruited the first patient into its third Phase III trial, it has begun thinking about marketing plans.

Data from the 303 study in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip are expected in mid-2008, as are results from study 302 in OA of the knee. NicOx (Euronext:COX, Sophia Antipolis, France) plans U.S. and EU regulatory submissions in 1Q09. ...