Nicox S.A. announced that Sjö™, an advanced diagnostic panel for the early detection of Sjögren’s Syndrome, has been launched in the US. Nicox’s sales force is now promoting Sjö™ in select US markets to eye care professionals, who are in a unique position to identify Sjögren’s Syndrome as dry eye is a significant and early symptom of the condition. Nicox also announces that it has formed a partnership with the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation to raise awareness of the disease among eye care professionals.
Jerry St. Peter, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Nicox Inc, commented, “The launch of a proprietary, novel test for early detection of Sjögren’s Syndrome demonstrates the potential of ophthalmic diagnostics in a wide range of conditions. Sjö™ is the second diagnostic which Nicox has launched in the US and represents another important step towards our goal of becoming a leading provider of ophthalmic diagnostics, drugs and devices. We are pleased to partner with the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation to increase awareness of this serious and underdiagnosed condition among eye care practitioners across the country.”
Introducing Sjö™ for the early detection of Sjögren’s Syndrome
Sjö™ is an advanced diagnostic panel for the detection of Sjögren’s Syndrome, with high sensitivity and specificity. Sjögren’s Syndrome is among the most common and underdiagnosed autoimmune diseases which can lead to significant morbidity, diminished gland performance and atrophy. It is estimated to affect 4 million people in the US, of which 3 million are undiagnosed. Sjö™ is a proprietary laboratory test developed by Immco Diagnostics Inc. which combines traditional markers with three novel, proprietary biomarkers, allowing earlier detection of the disease. It will be promoted to US eye care professionals by Nicox’s US sales force under an exclusive North American agreement signed with Immco in June 2013. Sjö™ is the second product launched by Nicox in the US following the launch of AdenoPlus®, a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test that aids in the differential diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis, in October 2012. Over the past year, Nicox has been building its own specialist sales force in selected US markets to support these and other future launches.
Early Diagnosis Can Improve Management of Sjögren’s Syndrome
Sjögren’s Syndrome causes patients’ immune cells to attack moisture-producing glands resulting in dry eye, which is one of the early and hallmark symptoms of the disease. Many Sjögren’s patients first see their eye care practitioner with dry eye symptoms which are often mistaken for routine dry eye. It is estimated that more than 20 million patients aged 40 years and older suffer from dry eyes in the US, and as many as 1 in 10 dry eye patients may also have Sjögren’s Syndrome.
Eye care practitioners are therefore in a unique position to help identify patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome. Currently, there is an average delay of 4.7 years for patients to receive an accurate diagnosis, and patients are often diagnosed in late stages of the disease after gland degradation has taken effect. Earlier detection is important to allow time for proper management and to help avoid further complications.
Nicox forms partnership with the US Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation
Nicox has established a partnership with the US Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation to raise awareness of the prevalence, seriousness and significance of Sjögren’s Syndrome to eye care specialists. A targeted media campaign over the next few months will aim to educate specialists about the disease and the role they can play in early detection.
“The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation is honored to be partnering with Nicox as they unveil their new Sjögren’s diagnostic,” commented Steven Taylor, Chief Executive Officer at the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation. “This partnership will help educate eye care professionals about the seriousness of Sjögren’s and encourage them to identify potential Sjögren’s patients, enabling them to receive proper diagnosis and timely medical care to treat this serious autoimmune disease.”