Nicox enters agreement to promote Immco dry eye test

Sophia Antipolis, France-Nicox S.A. has entered into an exclusive agreement with Immco Diagnostics Inc., which manufactures autoimmune diagnostic products and services, to promote a proprietary laboratory test targeted at early detection and diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome.

With dry eye being one of the early primary symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome, the collaboration will give eye-care practitioners (ECPs) and patients increased access to a state-of-the-art test that supports early diagnosis and potentially efficient management of this chronic disease.

Under the terms of the agreement, Immco, based in Buffalo, NY, will grant Nicox the exclusive rights to promote the laboratory test to ECPs in North America. Nicox will be responsible for all marketing activities, while Immco will carry out the test in its CLIA-approved laboratory and be responsible for regulatory activities and reimbursement.

Nicox will receive a majority share of revenue generated from ECPs. Nicox also will not make upfront or milestone payments. Nicox also has a 9-month option to negotiate an agreement to promote the test worldwide. During this period, Immco and Nicox are planning to study and evaluate the feasibility and implementation for the test in other markets, including Europe.

Immco’s new laboratory test is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test combining three novel proprietary biomarkers (SP-1, CA-6, PSP) and the traditional markers (ANA, Ro, La, RF). This breakthrough test can aid in diagnosing Sjögren’s syndrome at an earlier stage compared with traditional methods, therefore, significantly improving management of the disease. The test was approved in the United States in 2013, and is already available to physicians across North America.

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