NicOx and TOPIGEN end collaboration

NicOx and TOPIGEN Pharmaceuticals today announced they have mutually terminated their collaboration for TPI 1020, an anti-inflammatory drug-candidate for respiratory indications.

The decision follows the recent acquisition of Canadian-based respiratory therapeutics company, TOPIGEN, by Pharmaxis, an Australian pharma company specialising in under-treated respiratory diseases.

TOPIGEN had been in active discussions with NicOX – a company focused on the research, development and future commercialisation of drug candidates – to explore potential new opportunities for the development of TPI 1020 in a variety of respiratory indications. These followed two phase IIA studies seeing the effects of TPI 1020 in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The takeover however means these discussions will not be taken forward.

TOPIGEN still has several drug candidates for respiratory disorders which Pharmaxis are keen to develop. These include TPI ASM8, currently in phase II clinical development for the management of moderate to severe asthma, and TPI 1100, currently in preclinical development for COPD.

Speaking on the takeover, Pharmaxis chief executive officer Alan Robertson said: "These potential new medicines are an ideal fit for Pharmaxis. The Topigen product, ASM8, is due to report the results of its phase II dosing trial in the first half of this year. It has an attractive clinical profile and there remains a strong medical need for new products in the severe and specialist-treated asthma market."