REG - Roquefort Theraptcs. - Creation of New Novel Family of mRNA Therapeutics

Roquefort TherapeuticsAnnouncement

08/03/2023 07:15

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RNS Number : 2195S  Roquefort Therapeutics PLC  08 March 2023

8 March 2023

 

Roquefort Therapeutics plc

("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")

 

Creation of New Novel Family of mRNA Therapeutics

Portfolio enhanced with in-house development of a platform of novel mRNA
medicines

 

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF), the Main Market listed biotech
company focused on developing first in class medicines in the high value and
high growth oncology market is pleased to announce the successful development
of a new novel platform of anti-cancer mRNA therapeutics. This is the
Company's fifth program and the third in its Midkine ("MDK") family.

 

Following the Company's initial success with oligonucleotide therapeutics
reported during 2022, the Roquefort Therapeutics drug discovery team, led by
Vice President of Drug Discovery, Professor Graham Robertson, has developed a
pioneering mRNA anti-cancer program. This new platform of mRNA therapeutics
was developed internally and consists of four mRNA pre-clinical therapeutics
targeting Roquefort Therapeutics' novel MDK target.

 

mRNA is a cutting-edge anti-cancer approach pioneered by leading biotech
companies Moderna and BioNTech. Importantly, this is the first mRNA targeting
Roquefort Therapeutics' novel MDK target and has been developed in-house
within the Company's existing budget and schedule.

 

The significance of the mRNA program is twofold: (1) it highlights Roquefort
Therapeutics' internal R&D capacity to develop cutting edge pre-clinical
cancer medicines within the Company's strategy and which complements the
Company's ability to select and acquire external programs; and (2) anti-cancer
mRNA is a highly commercially attractive field. Through developing its own
mRNA platform, Roquefort Therapeutics significantly increases its profile and
highlights its position within the one of the most attractive niches in the
biotech field for licensing and M&A.

 

Developing the mRNA anti-cancer program is highly synergistic with the
Company's existing oligonucleotide MDK program in development at the
University of New South Wales, ensuring development continues to remain on
budget and on schedule. The addition of the mRNA family expands Roquefort
Therapeutics' portfolio to five highly innovative programs which remain fully
funded to the critical value inflection point of clinical trial readiness.

 

The Company is now working towards demonstrating efficacy of the mRNA
therapeutics in specific cancer targets, alongside the Company's existing
oligonucleotide MDK program.

 

Ajan Reginald, Chief Executive Officer of Roquefort Therapeutics, said:

"We are continuing to build momentum in 2023 having successfully completed the
Midkine antibody pre-clinical development milestone in January and the Randox
licensing deal in February. In parallel, our R&D team has been perfecting
four mRNA anti-cancer therapeutics that target Midkine.

 

This is an exciting new approach to treat cancer which is attractive to big
pharma, demonstrated by some large recent licensing deals and acquisitions.
mRNA fits well into our existing portfolio with a highly synergistic
development and so increases our chances of success (with a highly attractive
asset) without increasing spend. In the meantime, we remain highly focused and
on schedule to announce more value inflexion milestones on time and within
budget. "

 

-Ends-

 

Enquiries:
 Roquefort Therapeutics plc
 Stephen West (Chairman) / Ajan Reginald (CEO)  +44 (0)20 3918 8633

 Hybridan LLP (Joint Broker)

 Claire Louise Noyce                            +44 (0)203 764 2341

 Optiva Securities Limited (Joint Broker)
 Christian Dennis                               +44 (0)20 3411 1881

 Buchanan (Public Relations)

 Ben Romney / Jamie Hooper / George Beale       +44 (0)20 7466 5000

 

LEI: ‎254900P4SISIWOR9RH34

 

About Roquefort Therapeutics

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF) is a Main Market listed biotech
company developing first in class drugs in the high value and high growth
oncology segment prior to partnering or selling to big pharma.

 

Since listing in March 2021, Roquefort Therapeutics has successfully acquired
Lyramid Pty Limited, a leader in the development of medicines for a new
therapeutic target, Midkine (a human growth factor associated with cancer
progression), and most recently acquired Oncogeni Ltd, founded by Nobel
Laureate Professor Sir Martin Evans, which has developed two families of
innovative cell and RNA oncology medicines.

 

Roquefort Therapeutics' portfolio consists of five fully funded, novel
patent-protected pre-clinical anti-cancer medicines.  The highly
complementary profile of four best-in-class medicines consists of:

·    Midkine antibodies with significant in vivo efficacy and toxicology
studies;

·    Midkine RNA therapeutics with novel anti-cancer gene editing action;

·    Midkine mRNA therapeutics with novel anti-cancer approach

·    STAT-6 siRNA therapeutics targeting solid tumours with significant in
vivo efficacy; and

·    MK cell therapy with direct and NK-mediated anti-cancer action.

 

For further information on Roquefort Therapeutics, please visit
www.roquefortplc.com (http://www.roquefortplc.com) and @RoquefortTherap on
Twitter.

 

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