REG - Roquefort Theraptcs. - Formation of Scientific Advisory Board

Roquefort TherapeuticsAnnouncement

06/03/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 9238R  Roquefort Therapeutics PLC  06 March 2023

6 March 2023

Roquefort Therapeutics plc

("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")

 

Formation of Scientific Advisory Board to Support Strategy

Depth of scientific and medical experience

 

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 formation of its
Scientific Advisory Board ("SAB").

 

With the Company's focus on the market niche of the cancers that are resistant
to existing medicines, developing innovative, patented medicines to target
novel cancer targets or immunotherapies to enhance the body's anti-cancer
response, the SAB will initially comprise of Professor Jo Martin, Professor
Trevor Jones and Professor Armand Keating, who together are a team of
researchers, biopharmaceutical innovators and clinicians with an emphasis on
linking pre-clinical research, clinical trials, production of medicines and
the care of patients.  The Company aims to use its drug development expertise
to complete pre-clinical development to reach valuation milestones for
licensing transactions or sale of a clinical program.

 

The SAB will work closely with the Company's Group Chief Scientific Officer,
Professor Sir Martin Evans to provide scientific guidance on the Company's
strategy as it approaches key pre-clinical milestones and its approach to
clinical trials.

 

Professor Jo Martin CBE

Professor Martin is Professor of Pathology and Deputy Vice Principal Health at
Queen Mary, University of London and National Speciality Advisor Pathology NHS
England and Improvement.  Prof. Martin qualified at Cambridge University and
London Hospital Medical College, and has a University of London PhD and
Masters in Leadership. She has over 130 published papers including in Nature
Group and Science. She is an award winning eCPD app designer and co-founder of
Biomoti, a drug delivery development ovarian cancer company. Prof. Martin
developed and leads an innovative multi-million pound adaptive learning
programme for RCPath and Health Education England.  Prof. Martin served as a
director on the Board of Barts Health NHS Trust for 5 years. She has broad
experience in healthcare management including responsibility for local and
regional research and for the training and education of over 17,500 staff.
Previously Prof. Martin was National Clinical Director of Pathology for NHS
England April 2013-16, and President of the Royal College of Pathologists from
November 2017-2020, and is now National Specialty Advisor for Pathology for
NHS England and Improvement, chairing the national Pathology Board and the
national Pathology Workforce Board. Prof. Martin has led the profession during
the pandemic and subsequent incidents related to global and national
pressures. She has worked with international charities, including as Chair of
the Research Advisory Board of the Motor Neuron Disease Association.

 

Professor Trevor Jones CBE

Professor Jones has been a scientific advisor to the Company since February
2022. Prof. Jones has had a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical and
biotech industry spanning over 45 years, having previously been main Board
Director for Research & Development at The Wellcome Foundation (Wellcome
plc), where he was responsible for the development of a number of significant
products across several therapeutic areas attracting reimbursement, as well as
OTC formulations.  Prof. Jones also served as a Non-Executive Director of
Allergan Inc from 2004 to 2015 during which time the company made a number of
key acquisitions.  During Prof. Jones's career, he has served on the Boards
of a number of other private and publicly listed companies and industry bodies
across the UK, USA and Europe. In particular, he was a former Director General
of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry where he directed
all the activities related to UK pharmaceutical industry government relations
on behalf of national and international pharmaceutical companies. For 12
years he was a member of The UK Government Regulatory Agency, The Medicines
Commission and Chair of the UK Government Advisory Group on Genetics
Research.  He was also a member of the Scientific Board of the EU Life
Sciences Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).  More recently, Prof. Jones
joined the Board of Ascension as a Non-Executive Director, helping advise the
company on product development and its commercial activities related to
haemophilia and osteoarthritis.  He also serves as an adviser to the UK
Government on public health matters including COVID-19.

Professor Armand Keating

Professor Keating has been an independent medical advisor to the Company since
September 2022. Prof. Keating is an internationally recognised leader in blood
and marrow transplantation and cell therapy. He is a Professor of Medicine and
of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Previously Prof.
Keating was President of the American Society of Hematology and President of
the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. He has served in a
number of advisory roles at the US National Institutes of Health and more
recently for the New Organ Alliance and NASA. He held the position of Chief,
Medical Services at Princess Margaret Hospital for a decade and was the
Division Director of Hematology at the University of Toronto. His research
and clinical interests focus on cell-based tissue regeneration, anti-cancer
cell therapy, and blood and marrow transplantation. He has conducted
laboratory, translational and clinical research in these areas, particularly
on the biology and clinical application of mesenchymal stromal cells and NK
cells.

 

Roquefort Therapeutics Group Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Sir Martins
Evans said, "I am looking forward to working with Professors Jo Martin, Trevor
Jones and Armand Keating who have a wealth of experience in medical research
and drug development.  Each member of the SAB brings unrivalled scientific
expertise and knowledge that will be invaluable as we progress our novel
anti-cancer programs. The formation of the Roquefort Therapeutics Scientific
Advisory Board is an important step forward for the Company in what is an
exciting period."

 

-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 four 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;

·    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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