Nicox to market AMD test in North America

Sequenom Laboratories and Nicox announced Thursday that they have entered into an agreement that will allow Nicox exclusive promotion and marketing rights to Sequenom Laboratories' age-related macular degeneration test in North America.

RetnaGene is a test that uses a DNA sample to calculate the risk of AMD progression to choroidal neovascularization within 2, 5 and 10 years. The test sample, taken with a cheek swab, is evaluated along with the severity of the patient's existing symptoms, age and smoking status to determine a risk score.

“AMD affects approximately 15 million people in the U.S. and is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 and over," Jerry St. Peter, executive vice president and general manager of Nicox Inc., said in the release. "The ability to identify those patients most at risk of progressing to wet AMD represents a major opportunity to optimize the management of their disease.”

St. Peter said the AMD test fits well within its diagnostics portfolio, which also includes Sjö for detecting Sjögren’s syndrome and AdenoPlus for adenovirus.

The agreement between Sequenom Laboratories and Nicox also grants Nicox exclusive rights to another AMD test in late-stage development and an option on other ophthalmic tests developed by Sequenom Laboratories.

Nicox expects to begin marketing the test in the U.S. in the first half of 2014, according to the release.