RCS - Redx Pharma plc - Encouraging Data on Porcupine and ROCK Inhibitors

Redx PharmaAnnouncement

27/06/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 2094Q  Redx Pharma plc  27 June 2022

REDX PHARMA PLC

("Redx" or "the Company")

 

Redx Presents Encouraging Preclinical Data on the Potential of Porcupine and
ROCK Inhibitors to Tackle Cancer-Associated Fibrosis

 

Cancer-associated fibrosis is an emerging area in hard-to-treat cancers where
tumour specific fibroblasts can blockade effective drug treatment

 

Data presented as part of inaugural Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress

 

Redx's RXC008, a GI-targeted ROCK Inhibitor, also highlighted in a separate
presentation as a potential first-in-class treatment for fibrostenotic Crohn's
disease

 

 

Alderley Park, 27 June 2022 Redx (AIM: REDX), the clinical-stage biotechnology
company focused on discovering and developing novel, small molecule, highly
targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and fibrotic disease,
announces that two presentations were delivered at the inaugural Extracellular
Matrix Pharmacology Congress ("ECM 2022") in Copenhagen, 23-25 June. The
presentations highlighted novel preclinical research performed by the Company
and academic collaborators including encouraging data supporting Redx's
Porcupine and ROCK inhibitors as potential novel treatments for
cancer-associated fibrosis.

 

Dr Richard Armer, Chief Scientific Officer, Redx Pharma, commenting on both
presentations at the ECM Congress said: "The encouraging data sets presented
at the ECM Congress demonstrate the potential of our proprietary molecules to
address hard-to-treat cancers and fibrotic diseases, including
cancer-associated fibrosis. Redx is uniquely positioned to become a leader in
these underserved clinical areas as we continue to leverage our current
clinical assets, world-class medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery engine.
We look forward to continuing our work with leading academic institutions to
research possible future applications of our molecules."

 

Collaboration partner, Professor Marina Pajic of the prestigious Garvan
Institute of Medical Research (the "Garvan") in New South Wales, Australia
presented the RXC004 (PORCUPINE) and ROCK2 selective inhibitor data showing
that targeting fibrosis associated with pancreatic cancer led to increased
survival in mouse models. The collaboration between Redx and the Garvan was
announced on 5 April 2022.

 

Professor Marina Pajic, Associate Professor and Strategic Program Lead for
Precision Medicine for Cancer at the Garvan commented: "Highly fibrotic
pancreatic cancers are a key research area for us. Our work with Redx's
proprietary, highly selective small molecules allows us to expand our
understanding of how targeting different signalling pathways may be used to
develop novel treatments which improve patient survival in these
difficult-to-treat cancers."

 

In a second presentation, Head of Inflammation and Fibrosis at Redx, Dr Peter
Bunyard, presented data supporting RXC008, a GI-targeted ROCK inhibitor, as a
potential first-in-class treatment for fibrostenotic Crohn's disease. The
presented results were from a research collaboration between Redx and
scientists at Belgium's Ghent University and assessed the preclinical efficacy
of RXC008 based on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) texture
analysis to determine fibrotic changes in the colon. The data showed that
RXC008 could significantly reduce fibrosis in the mouse dextran sulfate sodium
(DSS) model measured by both histology and, for the first time, non-invasive
MRI. This study therefore highlights that RXC008 has the potential to be the
first pharmaceutical treatment for fibrostenotic Crohn's disease, reducing or
replacing the need for repeated and debilitating surgical interventions,
currently the only treatment option for patients, and that MRI could be used
to monitor the effectiveness of new treatments in the clinic without the need
for invasive biopsy.

 

Debby Laukens, Professor of Gastro-Intestinal Inflammation at Ghent
University, commented: "We are proud of our work with Redx and the crucial
role it played in profiling a differentiated drug candidate through measuring
its anti-fibrotic effects using a novel, non-intrusive technique. We were
clearly able to demonstrate the efficacy of Redx's GI-targeted ROCK inhibitor
to specifically target fibrosis in the intestines."

 

About the Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress

 

The Congress, organised by the Danish Research Foundation, brought together
experts in the fields of cancer, fibrosis and immunology to discuss new
pharmacological approaches to treat chronic diseases often caused by
alterations in the extracellular matrix ("ECM") structure. Redx was one of
eight symposium sponsors.

 

 

 For further information, please contact:

 Redx Pharma Plc                                             T: +44 (0)1625 469 918

 Caitlin Pearson, Head of Communications ir@redxpharma.com
 (mailto:ir@redxpharma.com)

 UK Headquarters

 Lisa Anson, Chief Executive Officer

 US Office

 Peter Collum, Chief Financial Officer

 SPARK Advisory Partners (Nominated Adviser)                 T: +44 (0)203 368 3550
 Matt Davis/ Adam Dawes

 WG Partners LLP (Joint Broker)                              T: +44 (0)203 705 9330
 Claes Spång/ Satheesh Nadarajah/ David Wilson

 Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Joint Broker)                  T: +44 (0)207 886 2500
 Rupert Dearden/ Freddy Crossley/ Emma Earl

 FTI Consulting                                              T: +44 (0)203 727 1000
 Simon Conway/ Ciara Martin

 

About Redx Pharma Plc

Redx Pharma (AIM: REDX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on
the discovery and development of novel, small molecule, highly targeted
therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and fibrotic diseases, aiming
initially to progress them to clinical proof of concept before evaluating
options for further development and potential value creation. Redx's lead
oncology product candidate, the Porcupine inhibitor RXC004, commenced a Phase
2 programme in November 2021. The Company's selective ROCK2 inhibitor product
candidate, RXC007, is in development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and
commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial in June 2021. Encouraging safety and
pharmacokinetic data has been reported, and a Phase 2 clinical program is
confirmed to start in 2022. Redx's third drug candidate, RXC008, a GI-targeted
ROCK inhibitor for the treatment of fibrostenotic Crohn's disease, is
currently in pre-IND stage, with Phase 1 clinical studies expected to commence
in 2023.

 

The Company has a strong track record of discovering new drug candidates
through its core strengths in medicinal chemistry and translational science,
enabling the Company to discover and develop differentiated therapeutics
against biologically or clinically validated targets. The Company's
accomplishments are evidenced not only by its two wholly-owned clinical-stage
product candidates and rapidly expanding pipeline, but also by its strategic
transactions, including the sale of pirtobrutinib (RXC005, LOXO-305), a BTK
inhibitor now in Phase 3 clinical development by Eli Lilly following its
acquisition of Loxo Oncology and RXC006, a Porcupine inhibitor targeting
fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which
AstraZeneca is progressing in a Phase 1 clinical study. In addition, Redx has
forged collaborations with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, which includes JZP815, a
preclinical pan-RAF inhibitor, which has received IND clearance from the US
FDA and an early stage oncology research collaboration.

 

 

To subscribe to Email Alerts from Redx, please visit:
www.redxpharma.com/investor-centre/email-alerts/
(http://www.redxpharma.com/investor-centre/email-alerts/)

 

About The Garvan Institute of Medical Research
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research brings together world leading
researchers and clinicians, collaborating locally and globally, to improve
human health. Our mission is to harness all the information encoded in our
genome to better diagnose, treat, predict and prevent disease. From the
individual patient with rare disease, to the many thousands affected by
complex, widespread illness, we are pioneering discoveries across diseases
that have the deepest impact on our community.

 

About Ghent University

Ghent University is a top 100 university, founded in 1817, and one of the
major universities in Belgium with more than 49,000 students and 15,000
employees. Our 11 faculties offer more than 200 courses and conduct in-depth
research within a wide range of scientific domains. Our credo is 'Dare to
Think', challenging everyone to question conventional views and to dare to
take a nuanced stand. We are a pluralistic university open to all, regardless
of their ideological, political, cultural or social background. Ghent
University Global Campus is also the first European university in Songdo,
South Korea. www.ugent.be #ugent

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