Nicox and Sequenom have announced that their affiliate companies (Nicox and Sequenom Laboratories) have entered into an exclusive agreement in the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) field.
As part of this agreement, Nicox has been granted the North American promotional rights to the Sequenom Laboratories RetnaGene AMD laboratory-developed test, for the evaluation of a patient’s risk of AMD disease progression within two, five and ten years.
The RetnaGene AMD test will be promoted by the same Nicox US sales force which recently launched Sjo, an advanced diagnostic panel for the early detection of Sjogren’s Syndrome. Nicox expects to begin promoting the RetnaGene AMD test in the US in the first half of 2014.
Sequenom president and COO William Welch said: "We are pleased to collaborate with Nicox to expand access to the RetnaGene AMD test to clinicians and their patients, and we are confident in Nicox’s ability to leverage its growing sales team and expertise in the ophthalmic arena to successfully market the test."
Under the terms of the agreement, Sequenom Laboratories will grant Nicox exclusive rights to promote the RetnaGene AMD laboratory-developed test to eye care practitioners in North America (the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico) and co-exclusive rights towards specialized retina physicians.
Sequenom Laboratories will provide the sample collection materials and will perform the testing in its CLIA-certified laboratory at an agreed price to Nicox. Further, Sequenom Laboratories will contribute existing commercial and clinical expertise, and marketing intelligence to expedite increased market demand and uptake within the general ophthalmology and optometry segments.
Nicox will be responsible for all marketing and promotional activities, and will directly promote the RetnaGene AMD testing service to eye care practitioners.
The agreement also grants Nicox exclusive rights to an additional AMD laboratory-developed test currently in late-stage development and as well an exclusive option on further laboratory-developed tests developed by Sequenom Laboratories that are applicable in the ophthalmic space.