Nicox Announces Approval of Zerviate in China for Allergic Conjunctivitis

Nicox SA announced that its Chinese partner, Ocumension Therapeutics, has received approval to commercialize Zerviate (cetirizine ophthalmic solution) 0.24% in China. Zerviate is designed to treat ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.

"The approval of Zerviate for commercialization in China is an excellent achievement by our partner, Ocumension Therapeutics," Emmet Purtill, Vice President of Business Development at Nicox, said in a company news release. "We trust in their capabilities to support a quick launch and use their strong commercial presence across China to maximize market penetration. This new commercial launch will add another revenue stream to Nicox as we will receive from 5% to 9% royalties and commercial milestones on Ocumension’s net sales of Zerviate in China."

Ocumension Therapeutics projects peak annual sales of over $100 million for Zerviate within the next 7 years, according to a company news release. The company’s marketing strategy is set to leverage its network of national and provincial distributors across China.

Zerviate is the first and only eye drop formulation of the antihistamine cetirizine, the active ingredient in the oral allergy medication, Zyrtec. Already commercialized in the US for treating ocular itching due to allergic conjunctivitis through Nicox’s U.S. partner Harrow, the product now extends its reach to the Asian market. Ocumension also highlighted Zerviate's suitability for treating allergic conjunctivitis in young children, including toddlers and preschoolers, addressing a significant gap in the market. The drug will be produced in Ocumension’s new manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China.

Ocumension holds exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Zerviate in China and much of Southeast Asia, potentially yielding up to $17.2 million in sales milestones for Nicox, alongside royalty earnings between 5% to 9% of net sales, according to Nicox.