According to Bandolier, approximately half of all men have histological evidence of BPH at age 60, a number that increases to 90% by age 85. About 25% of American men will be treated for BPH by the time they reach 80. About 300,000 surgical procedures are performed each year for BPH. Most of these are transurethral resections of the prostate (TURP), making TURP the second most common surgical procedure next to cataracts at a cost estimated at $2 billion per year. Available medical therapies include treatment using alpha-1-adrenergic receptor blockers that inhibit contraction of prostatic smooth muscle, and treatment using a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (finasteride), an enzyme inhibitor that lowers prostatic androgen levels and can result in some decreased prostate size.

The Biohorizon Emerging Health Technology Database currently lists two other therapies under development for BPH. QLT’s lemuteporfin is the only molecule under active evaluation. The potential large market size for a breakthrough therapy in BPH makes ongoing developments in this area important. However, NX-1207 must succeed in Phase II and enter pivotal Phase III studies before we would advise health services clients to commence assessment activities. Note that due to the lack of information supplied by Nymox regarding NX-1207, we are unable to discuss the structure and function of this drug in any detail. In our impact assessment, the innovation variable was therefore assigned the default value of 50 (new molecule in an existing class).

Technology Details
Target Disease / Indication: Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Technology Classification: Drug
Body System: Genitourinary System
Program Area: Urology
Regulatory Status: Phase II
BioHorizon Impact Score: 53/100 – Moderate