PARIS - NicOx S.A. announced positive results from the first dermatological clinical trial of its nitro-flurbiprofen derivative, HCT-1026. The Phase I/II clinical trial of a topical formulation of HCT-1026 started in March and was conducted on 16 healthy patients with contact urticaria induced by methyl nicotinate.

The HCT-1026 1 percent ointment was tested against a placebo, a flurbiprofen 1 percent ointment and a reference compound, niflumic acid 3 percent ointment, and showed a potent and significantly higher anti-inflammatory activity compared to the reference compound and the placebo. No adverse effects or topical intolerance were reported.

NicOx has embarked on a second Phase I/II dermatology trial to test two concentrations of HCT 1026 - 0.3 percent and 1 percent ointment. Like the first one, this trial is being conducted in Nice, close to NicOx's headquarters in Sophia-Antipolis. It is taking the form of a randomized, double-blind study involving 24 healthy patients with UV-induced erythema (akin to sunburn), comparing the anti-inflammatory properties of the two doses of HCT 1026 with a placebo and a 0.1 percent reference steroid cream.

This is the second in a series of clinical trials planned by NicOx for testing different dermatological applications of HCT 1026, a nitric oxide-releasing non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug. In addition, the company is developing other pharmaceutical compounds for dermatological uses.

NicOx also announced the appointment of Antoine Abita as vice president, product development, and Joel Morley as U.S. liaison officer. Abita has spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry in Europe and Southeast Asia, working for companies such as Servier (in France and Japan), Anphar-Rolland, a subsidiary of the French company Lipha, and Johnson & Johnson affiliate Janssen Pharmaceutica. - James Etheridge