REG - N4 Pharma PLC - CEO Appointment & Name Change Thalia Therapeutics

N4 PharmaAnnouncement

24/02/2026 07:00

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RNS Number : 0705U  N4 Pharma PLC  24 February 2026

 

24 February 2026

 

N4 Pharma plc

 

("N4 Pharma" or the "Company")

 

CEO Appointment, Strategic Update and Name Change to Thalia Therapeutics

 

Dr David H Solomon appointed as CEO to drive the development of high-value RNA
therapeutics as well as novel delivery technologies

Programme initiated to develop a novel, long-duration, dual-acting siRNA
against PCSK9 and Lp(a), key targets to reduce cardiovascular risk

N4 Pharma to be renamed Thalia Therapeutics to reflect strategic transition to
an RNA therapeutic biotechnology company

 

N4 Pharma plc (AIM: N4P), the UK biotech developing Nuvec®, its proprietary
gene delivery system to enable advanced therapies for cancer and other
diseases, is pleased to announce that it is expanding its pipeline to
transition to a therapeutic biotechnology company focused on the development
of innovative RNA-based therapeutics as well as progressing its novel RNA
delivery platform Nuvec®.  The Company has submitted a preliminary patent
filing for a novel dual-acting siRNA targeting the reduction of cardiovascular
risk.

 

To implement this accelerated strategy, the Company has appointed Dr David H
Solomon as Chief Executive Officer, and it is proposed that the Company will
be renamed Thalia Therapeutics plc. In identifying David as his successor,
Nigel Theobald, the Company founder, has stepped down as Chief Executive
Officer and a director of the Company with immediate effect to enjoy his
retirement.

 

Dr David H Solomon

 

David brings over 30 years of international leadership experience in
biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare innovation. He has held
multiple Chief Executive roles at publicly-listed and private biotech
companies in both the US and Europe, demonstrating expertise in R&D
delivery, strategic business development, financing, and delivering
significant shareholder value.

 

David served as the Chief Executive Officer of Zealand Pharma A/S, leading
the company through its Nasdaq Copenhagen IPO and the global approval of its
lead product, Lixisenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist for type II diabetes,
marketed by Sanofi as Adlixin® and Soliqua®. Under his leadership, Zealand
Pharma grew from an early-stage biotech into a high-growth listed company, now
listed on Nasdaq. David executed on licensing agreements with Sanofi,
Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Abbvie and Helsinn, bringing in over US$200
million of non-dilutive funding to the company. He went on to lead Silence
Therapeutics, the now Nasdaq-listed RNA therapeutics company and increased its
share price on AIM by almost 600 per cent. during his tenure. Earlier, David
was also Chief Executive Officer of Pharnext S.A., a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical firm focused on novel rare disease therapeutics.  He has
also served on multiple biotech boards, including as Chairman and Director for
companies such as Advicenne and Rexgenero, and has held board positions with
TxCell, Onxeo, and Promosome. David was also a founder of Carrot Capital
Healthcare Ventures in New York City.

 

David studied at Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University and the Sloan
Kettering Graduate School of Medical Sciences, where he received his PhD. He
also served on the faculty of Columbia University's College of Physicians
& Surgeons, in the departments of Pharmacology, Neurology and Biological
Sciences.

 

Disclosures pursuant to Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies are
detailed below.

 

Strategic Update and Name Change

 

Following a strategic review by the Board of N4 Pharma, the planned evolution
into Thalia Therapeutics reflects an expanded strategy to include the
development of innovative, high-value RNA-based therapeutics in cardiovascular
disease and oncology, and to widen the portfolio through the exploration of
further assets.

 

The Company's immediate strategy will be centred on advancing internally
generated assets to produce high-value clinical and preclinical data, while
leveraging these data to support partnering and licensing opportunities. This
capital-disciplined approach is designed to create significant sustainable
long-term shareholder value while reducing reliance on any single programme.

 

In its first initiative under this strategy, the Company will advance a novel
long-duration dual-acting siRNA therapy against PCSK9 and Lp(a), key targets
to reduce cardiovascular risk, and among the leading causes of global
morbidity and mortality. Lowering genetically set Lp(a) levels and high levels
of PCSK9 is expected to reduce cardiovascular events in global populations,
benefitting longevity, quality of life and health care costs. With the market
for PCSK9 inhibitors accelerating from an estimated US$1.7 billion to US$3.14
billion in 2023-2025 and a projected US$7.71 billion to US$13.35 billion by
2030-2035¹ and Lp(a) now being considered a key target for residual
cardiovascular risk, the Directors believe a product in this area with
supporting intellectual property could be hugely valuable for the Company and
of interest to industry partners.

 

In parallel to this, the Company is continuing to develop its proprietary
Nuvec™ technology for the delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics and is
currently focusing its work streams on assessing targeting to specific cell
types in conjunction with Strathclyde University. The Company believes that
improved data showing the targeting capabilities of Nuvec™ will greatly
enhance the assessment of what diseases Nuvec™ can target as an RNA delivery
mechanism beyond the work to date on N4 101.

 

Owing to the new strategic focus and with a view to prioritising resources
towards the ongoing Nuvec™ studies, the Company is pausing for the
foreseeable future the development of ECP105 under Nanogenics Limited
("Nanogenics") and is undertaking a review with the other Nanogenics
shareholders as to the next steps.

 

The proposed change of name is subject to shareholder approval and the issue
of a change of name certificate by Companies House. The Company's TIDM will be
THAT, and its LEI, ISIN and SEDOL remain unchanged. Existing share
certificates will remain valid, and no new certificates will be issued. The
proposed name change will be presented as a special resolution at a General
Meeting of the Company. Details of the General Meeting, including the time and
venue, will be included in the Notice of General Meeting alongside a form of
proxy, which will be dispatched to shareholders shortly.

 

Dr Chris Britten, Non-Executive Chairman of N4 Pharma plc, said:

 

"David's considerable experience in leading listed biotechnology businesses in
Europe and the US, his knowledge of RNA therapeutics, combined with his
strategic and commercial insight, deal-making and corporate finance successes,
makes him ideally suited to lead the Company through its next phase of
development as Thalia Therapeutics. Over the years, he has delivered
significant value for shareholders, and I welcome his appointment to the
Company.

 

"I would like to thank Nigel for his commitment and leadership of N4 Pharma
and acknowledge the important work he has done to drive the Nuvec® RNA
delivery platform forward.

 

"We look forward to updating shareholders on our progress in due course."

 

Dr David Solomon, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

 

"I am delighted to join N4 Pharma at such a pivotal moment in its development.
The planned transition to Thalia Therapeutics reflects a clear strategy,
underpinned by new programmes addressing large, high-growth markets and our
differentiated RNA delivery platform. The potential for Nuvec® as a delivery
platform and as a foundation from which to take the Company to the next level
was compelling. It forms the basis for the addition and development of further
assets, starting with the significant unmet needs in the cardiovascular
market, whilst remaining open to complementary acquisitions that could
accelerate our commercial ambitions.

 

"I look forward to working with the Board and senior leadership team to
execute this strategy, advance the pipeline and build long-term value for
shareholders."

 

1.
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/pcsk9-inhibitor-market#:~:text=PCSK9%20Inhibitor%20Market%20Analysis%20by,expectations%20with%20twice%2Dyearly%20dosing

 

https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/pcsk9-inhibitors-market.html#:~:text=The%20global%20PCSK9%20inhibitors%20market,request%20a%20free%20sample%20copy
(https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/pcsk9-inhibitors-market.html#:~:text=The%20global%20PCSK9%20inhibitors%20market,request%20a%20free%20sample%20copy)

 

The following information is disclosed pursuant to Rule 17 and Schedule Two
paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in relation to Dr David Horn
Solomon, aged 65:

 

 Current Directorships/Partnerships  Past Directorships/Partnerships (within 5 years)
 Solomon-Solvberg SC                 Pharnext SCA(1)

 Bronzet Management SRL              Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA(2)

 Sanmirna Inc                        Advicenne SA

 ( )                                 Rexgenero Limited

                                     Novalon SA

                                     David Horn Solomon Ltd

 

(1)On 20 January 2025, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France's
financial market authority, sanctioned David Solomon, alongside Pharnext SCA,
for allegedly failing to disclose in a timely manner insider information
relating to ongoing pre-clinical discussions with the FDA about a proposed
clinical trial during David Solomon's tenure as CEO of Pharnext between 2020
and 2022.  Dr Solomon and the company have appealed.

 

(2)Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA filed for bankruptcy in June 2024 three months
after David Solomon left the Company.

 

Sund Capital ApS, a Denmark incorporated healthcare investment fund where
David Solomon was founder, was compulsorily liquidated and dissolved in 2020
with approximately £50,000 owed to creditors.

 

David Horn Solomon holds no ordinary shares in the Company.

 

There are no further disclosures required in accordance with AIM Rule 17 or
Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

 

- Ends -

 

For more information please contact:

 

 N4 Pharma plc

 Dr Chris Britten, Chairman                                   Via N4 Pharma Investor Hub

 Luke Cairns, Executive Director                              https://n4pharma.com/link/y5R5le (https://n4pharma.com/link/y5R5le)

 Dr David H Solomon, CEO
 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP                               Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470

 Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker

 Matthew Johnson/Jen Clarke (Corporate Finance)

 Vadim Alexandre/Abigail Wayne/Rob Rees (Corporate Broking)
 Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Limited                        Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050

 Joint Broker

 Andy Thacker

 Guy McDougall
 Northstar Communications Limited                             Tel: +44 (0)20 7183 2463

 Investor Relations

 Sarah Hollins

 

N4 Pharma (to be renamed Thalia Therapeutics, subject to shareholder approval)
is a pre-clinical biotech company focused on developing innovative RNA
therapeutics and novel delivery systems to address high unmet needs in global
healthcare.

 

RNA therapeutics is one of the most rapidly growing therapeutic sectors that
is set to impact the treatment of a wide range of diseases. N4 Pharma is
developing a wholly owned pipeline of novel RNA therapeutics for
cardiovascular and other diseases, as well as developing Nuvec®, its
proprietary gene delivery system, to further differentiate its therapeutic
assets.

 

Nuvec® addresses multiple challenges associated with RNA therapeutics
manufacturing and delivery, including the ability to deliver multiple RNA
therapies in a single particle, ease of manufacturing, protection of the RNA
payload to allow for oral delivery, no unwanted immune response and excellent
stability and storage.

 

For further information visit https://n4pharma.com (https://n4pharma.com) or
www.thaliatx.com (http://www.thaliatx.com)

 

 

 

 

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