Roquefort Therapeutics PLC Patent Filed -- New Drug Class Targeting Midkine (4143F)
March 21 2022 - 3:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMROQ
RNS Number : 4143F
Roquefort Therapeutics PLC
21 March 2022
21 March 2022
Roquefort Therapeutics plc
("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")
Patent Filed - New Drug Class Targeting Midkine
Very positive pre-clinical trials lead to filing for Midkine
patent
Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ), the Main Market listed biotech
company focused on early-stage opportunities in the biotechnology
sector, is pleased to announce that the Company has filed its first
composition of matter provisional patent application for a new
class of RNA therapeutic drugs targeting Midkine.
In 2021 the Company entered into a collaboration with Professor
Steve Wilton's group at Murdoch University, Perth, Western
Australia to design and test a novel series of gene silencing
reagents, antisense oligonucleotides, targeting Midkine. These
oligonucleotide drugs interfere with processing of the Midkine mRNA
ultimately leading to reduced active Midkine protein produced in
diseased tissues and tumours. Prof. Wilton is a pioneer in this
gene silencing technology, having gained FDA approval for one of
the first RNA therapeutic drugs of this style for the treatment of
Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy.
As announced on 17 January 2022, after design and selection of
lead oligonucleotide drug candidates, the Company commenced in
vitro screening in cancer cells. These in vitro experiments have
generated very positive results demonstrating that the Company's
lead oligonucleotide drug candidates significantly reduce Midkine
mRNA levels seen in human cancer cells, which is in line with
initial pre-test expectations.
In order to protect the IP and the significant potential value
of this new class of RNA therapeutic drugs, Roquefort Therapeutics
has filed for its first composition of matter provisional patent
application covering antisense oligonucleotide drugs to block the
action of Midkine, a very important milestone for the Company.
The broad coverage of this composition of matter provisional
patent application will ultimately afford extensive IP protection
for the development of Midkine-based drugs using this novel
technology, paving the way for subsequent methods patents covering
the use of the Midkine antisense oligonucleotides in different
clinical indications.
The use of novel Midkine antisense oligonucleotides will
ultimately block the action of Midkine in driving various disease
processes involved in cancer, chronic inflammation and autoimmune
disorders.
The Company is now firming up collaborations with leading
medical research institutes in order to assess the lead
oligonucleotide drug candidates efficacy in altering tumour cell
behaviour and in vivo growth of tumours in mouse models of cancer,
an essential next step in the drug discovery process.
Stephen West, Executive Chairman, said:
"We are extremely delighted with the positive results of the
pre-clinical trials, which has been a collaboration between the
Company and internationally recognised leaders in this specific
style of RNA therapeutic drugs. The findings have given us
encouraging signs for the future of Midkine-based drugs in treating
a variety of disease processes, associated with cancer, chronic
inflammation and autoimmune disorders - each of which are
multi-billion dollar drug markets. The filing of this provisional
patent application is an exciting step and a notable milestone for
the Company as we progress with the next stage of efficacy testing.
Roquefort Therapeutics looks forward to updating shareholders as we
make further progress."
-Ends-
Enquiries:
Roquefort Therapeutics plc
+44 (0)20 3290
Stephen West (Chairman) 9339
Buchanan (Public Relations)
Ben Romney / Jamie Hooper / George
Beale
+44 (0)20 7466
Optiva Securities Limited (Broker) 5000
+44 (0)20 3411
Christian Dennis 1881
For further information on Roquefort Therapeutics, please visit
www.roquefortplc.com and @RoquefortTherap on Twitter.
LEI: 254900P4SISIWOR9RH34
About Roquefort Therapeutics
Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ) is a Main Market listed biotech
company developing products through the pre-clinical phase prior to
partnering or selling to big pharma. The Company is focused on
developing first in class Midkine inhibiting RNA therapeutic drugs
for the treatment of cancer, chronic inflammatory, autoimmune
disorder and COVID-19. Recent progress within mRNA therapeutics has
led to a reduction in drug development timelines and costs,
increasing the chance of early value creation.
Through extensive research resulting in validation through
publication in over 1,000 scientific publications, Roquefort
Therapeutics has identified the potential to exploit the broad
therapeutic potential of Midkine for a number of clinical
indications of significant unmet need. Roquefort Therapeutics holds
the largest global IP portfolio on Midkine. The Midkine blocking
drug development markets have significant global market potential
(in the multi-billion dollars). Roquefort Therapeutics's
pre-clinical programme is currently underway with an initial focus
on cancer treatment aiming to improve immunotherapy responses.
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