REG - Roquefort Theraptcs. - MDK Oncology Antibodies Demonstrate In-Vivo Safety

Roquefort TherapeuticsAnnouncement

24/01/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 5459N  Roquefort Therapeutics PLC  24 January 2023

24 January 2023

 

Roquefort Therapeutics plc

("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")

 

MDK Oncology Antibodies Demonstrate In-Vivo Safety

Development milestone achieved

 

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF), the Main Market listed biotech
company focused on developing first in class medicines in the high growth,
high value oncology market is pleased to announce the ROQ-A1 and ROQ-A2
Midkine ("MDK") antibody programs, targeting metastatic breast cancer and
metastatic lung cancer, have successfully demonstrated in vivo safety in
pre-clinical development programs carried out by leading cancer research
groups.

 

As stated in the Company's announcement of 9 January 2023, Roquefort
Therapeutics has recently signed partnership agreements and commenced
pre-clinical development programs with leading academic cancer research groups
at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (La Trobe University),
Lowry Cancer Research Centre (University of New South Wales), Hawkins
Laboratory Biochemistry and Genetics (La Trobe University) and the School of
Medical Sciences (University of Sydney).

 

ROQ-A1 and ROQ-A2 are the latest patented humanised antibody medicines
designed by Roquefort Therapeutics to target the novel MDK target prevalent in
hard-to-treat cancers. In laboratory experiments, ROQ-A1 and ROQ-A2 bind
highly specifically to the MDK receptors in cancer cells to kill cancers in
vitro.

 

The MDK antibody programs targeting metastatic breast cancer and metastatic
lung cancer commenced in Q4 2022 at La Trobe University, Melbourne in the
Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and Hawkins Laboratory
respectively and have now successfully reached the first pre-clinical drug
development milestone. Metastatic breast cancer and metastatic lung cancer
were chosen because of high patient mortality rates (~70% at five years) and
prevalence of resistant MDK subtypes which can reduce effectiveness of
existing therapies. Therefore, Roquefort Therapeutics is pleased that both
ROQ-A1 and ROQ-A2 have demonstrated a good safety profile in validated in vivo
models. These milestones were completed on schedule and within budget.

 

Both MDK antibody programs will now progress into in vivo pre-clinical
efficacy studies to assess cancer killing ability in primary and metastatic
breast cancer and lung cancer. The Company will update the market on the
results of these efficacy studies as they progress.

 

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

"We have started 2023 with significant momentum successfully completing these
initial pre-clinical development milestones on schedule and within budget. The
ROQ-A1 and ROQ-A2 antibodies are valuable assets that fit the established Big
Pharma paradigm of treating cancer with novel antibody therapeutics.
Therefore, we are pleased that both programs have shown the good safety
profile that is particularly attractive for innovative cancer medicines
targeting novel targets such as Midkine. Both programs will now progress
rapidly into in vivo pre-clinical efficacy testing. The siRNA, MK cell therapy
and Midkine oligonucleotide programs are also progressing well and are
expected to complete development milestones in Q1, which we will update the
market on in due course."

 

-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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