TIDMROQ
RNS Number : 8652N
Roquefort Therapeutics PLC
07 June 2022
7 June 2022
Roquefort Therapeutics plc
("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")
Pre-clinical Update
Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ), the Main Market listed biotech
company focused on early-stage opportunities in the biotechnology
sector, is pleased to provide an update on progress on its a
pre-clinical Midkine targeting drug development programs.
During the first half of 2022, the Company has been focused
on:
-- Progressing the collaborative work with Murdoch University,
Western Australia to design and test a novel series of gene
silencing reagents, antisense oligonucleotides, targeting Midkine;
and
-- Portfolio review including the Midkine antibody programs
acquired from Lyramid Ltd ("Lyramid") in December 2021 to assess
the commercial potential of these programmes; and
-- Strengthening the Board by appointing industry experienced professionals.
Antisense Oligonucleotide Program
During 2022 the Company has continued its 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.
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
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.
As announced on 21 March 2022, in order to protect the IP and
the significant potential value of this new class of RNA
therapeutic drugs, the Company 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.
During Q2 2022 the collaborative pre-clinical development
program work at Murdoch University has focused on the generation of
modified Midkine mRNA. The Company has developed a patented family
of proprietary oligonucleotides which achieve 90% splice switching
and most recently demonstrated the ability to modify Midkine mRNA
in in vitro cancer cell culture models.
The Company is now planning to commence collaborative work with
leading cancer researchers to assess the ability of the novel
Midkine inhibitors to modify in vitro tumour cell behaviour as a
prelude to testing the efficacy of the lead oligonucleotide drug
candidates using validated in vivo models of solid tumours.
The Company will update the market on the progress of these key
programs in due course.
Antibody Therapeutic Program
During 2022 the Company carried out a strategic and scientific
review of the antibody therapeutic programs undertaken by Lyramid
prior to the acquisition in December 2021. As a result of this
portfolio review, the Company has concluded that there are two
potentially high commercial value antibody programs (ROQA1 and
ROQA2) in the advanced stages of pre-clinical development.
Both ROQA1 and ROQA2 antibody programs demonstrated significant
anti-cancer activity in validated in vivo models of metastatic
tumours. The results showed a significant impact in metastatic
breast cancer (P<0.05) and Osteosarcoma (P<0.05) reducing
both the number and size of lung metastases.
Humanised antibodies have been manufactured for both programs,
with ROQA2 being successfully tested in both rodent and a non-human
primate GLP toxicology/pharmacokinetic studies. On the basis of
these positive results and the early commercial potential to be
first to market with an anti-Midkine oncology antibody, the Company
is accelerating development of the ROQA1 and ROQA2 antibody
programs which remain on track for CTA/IND filing in late 2023.
The Company will update the market on the progress of these two
advanced antibody pre-clinical development programs in due
course.
Stephen West, Executive Chairman, said:
"It has been a very active start to the year during which we
have made significant progress. The collaboration with Murdoch
University is yielding encouraging results with the Company's lead
oligonucleotide drug candidates. In addition, we are delighted that
the review of the wider portfolio acquired with Lyramid has
resulted in the conclusion that two of the antibody programs have
high commercial potential and we will therefore be accelerating
development of those as we aim to be the first to market with an
anti-Midkine oncology antibody. These are exciting developments
that broaden the commercial potential within the Company and
enhance the upside value that we believe can be delivered as we
progress the programs."
-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 a pre-clinical
biotech company focused on developing first in class Midkine
targeting drugs for the treatment of cancer.
Through extensive research resulting in validation through
publication in over 1,000 scientific journals, Roquefort
Therapeutics has identified the potential to exploit the broad
therapeutic potential of Midkine for a number of clinical
indications of unmet needs. Roquefort Therapeutics holds an
exclusive licence to the largest global IP portfolio on Midkine.
The Midkine blocking drug development markets have significant
global market potential (in the multi-billion dollars). Roquefort
Therapeutic's pre-clinical program is currently underway with an
initial focus on cancer.
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