REG - Roquefort Theraptcs. - Patent Filed – New Drug Class Targeting Midkine

Roquefort TherapeuticsAnnouncement

21/03/2022 07:15

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RNS Number : 4143F  Roquefort Therapeutics PLC  21 March 2022

21 March 2022

 

Roquefort Therapeutics plc

("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")

 

Patent Filed - New Drug Class Targeting Midkine

Very positive pre-clinical trials lead to filing for Midkine patent

 

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ), the Main Market listed biotech company
focused on early-stage opportunities in the biotechnology sector, is pleased
to announce that the Company has filed its first composition of matter
provisional patent application for a new class of RNA therapeutic drugs
targeting Midkine.

 

In 2021 the Company entered into a collaboration with Professor Steve Wilton's
group at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia to design and test a
novel series of gene silencing reagents, antisense oligonucleotides, targeting
Midkine. These oligonucleotide drugs interfere with processing of the Midkine
mRNA ultimately leading to reduced active Midkine protein produced in diseased
tissues and tumours. Prof. Wilton is a pioneer in this gene silencing
technology, having gained FDA approval for one of the first RNA therapeutic
drugs of this style for the treatment of Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy.

 

As announced on 17 January 2022, after design and selection of lead
oligonucleotide drug candidates, the Company commenced in vitro screening in
cancer cells.  These in vitro experiments have generated very positive
results demonstrating that the Company's lead oligonucleotide drug candidates
significantly reduce Midkine mRNA levels seen in human cancer cells, which is
in line with initial pre-test expectations.

 

In order to protect the IP and the significant potential value of this new
class of RNA therapeutic drugs, Roquefort Therapeutics has filed for its first
composition of matter provisional patent application covering antisense
oligonucleotide drugs to block the action of Midkine, a very important
milestone for the Company.

 

The broad coverage of this composition of matter provisional patent
application will ultimately afford extensive IP protection for the development
of Midkine-based drugs using this novel technology, paving the way for
subsequent methods patents covering the use of the Midkine antisense
oligonucleotides in different clinical indications.

 

The use of novel Midkine antisense oligonucleotides will ultimately block the
action of Midkine in driving various disease processes involved in cancer,
chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders.

 

The Company is now firming up collaborations with leading medical research
institutes in order to assess the lead oligonucleotide drug candidates
efficacy in altering tumour cell behaviour and in vivo growth of tumours in
mouse models of cancer, an essential next step in the drug discovery process.

 

Stephen West, Executive Chairman, said:

"We are extremely delighted with the positive results of the pre-clinical
trials, which has been a collaboration between the Company and internationally
recognised  leaders in this specific style of RNA therapeutic drugs. The
findings have given us encouraging signs for the future of Midkine-based drugs
in treating a variety of disease processes, associated with cancer, chronic
inflammation and autoimmune disorders - each of which are multi-billion dollar
drug markets. The filing of this provisional patent application is an exciting
step and a notable milestone for the Company as we progress with the next
stage of efficacy testing. Roquefort Therapeutics looks forward to updating
shareholders as we make further progress."

 

-Ends-

 

Enquiries:
 Roquefort Therapeutics plc
 Stephen West (Chairman)                    +44 (0)20 3290 9339

 Buchanan (Public Relations)

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

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

 

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

 

LEI: ‎254900P4SISIWOR9RH34

 

About Roquefort Therapeutics

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ) is a Main Market listed biotech company
developing products through the pre-clinical phase prior to partnering or
selling to big pharma.  The Company is focused on developing first in class
Midkine inhibiting RNA therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer, chronic
inflammatory, autoimmune disorder and COVID-19.  Recent progress within mRNA
therapeutics has led to a reduction in drug development timelines and costs,
increasing the chance of early value creation.

 

Through extensive research resulting in validation through publication in over
1,000 scientific publications, Roquefort Therapeutics has identified the
potential to exploit the broad therapeutic potential of Midkine for a number
of clinical indications of significant unmet need. Roquefort Therapeutics
holds the largest global IP portfolio on Midkine. The Midkine blocking drug
development markets have significant global market potential (in the
multi-billion dollars). Roquefort Therapeutics's pre-clinical programme is
currently underway with an initial focus on cancer treatment  aiming to
improve immunotherapy responses.

 

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