REG - ValiRx PLC - Evaluation Agreement with Imperial College London

ValiRxAnnouncement

21/03/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 6948H  ValiRx PLC  21 March 2024

VALIRX PLC

("ValiRx" or the "Company")

Initiation of Evaluation project Agreement with Imperial College London

ValiRx plc (the "Company") (AIM: VAL), a life sciences company focusing on
early-stage cancer therapeutics and women's health, is pleased to announce
signature of an evaluation agreement with Imperial College London (the
"Agreement"). This agreement enables ValiRx to evaluate research relating to
novel therapeutic candidates for cancer treatment.

The Agreement specifically focuses on investigating a lead series of
dual-kinase inhibitor candidates that show promise in reversing resistance to
current standard of care therapeutics in ovarian and other types of cancer.
Importantly, a similar approach has already been validated in clinical studies
with other assets across a range of tumour types and it holds significant
potential as a novel combination treatment.

This project builds upon previous ground-breaking research led by Dr Paula
Cunnea, Group Leader at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Division of
Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London and the previous Imperial
College Drug Discovery Centre.

The evaluation process for this project is expected to take approximately 12
months, with the lead series scrutinised for mechanism of action and
anti-cancer activity in combination with standard of care treatments in the
Inaphaea BioLabs facility and will draw upon the skills of external
collaborators.  Upon the conclusion of the evaluation, if milestones are met,
the project will be considered for in-licensing on pre-agreed terms. This
signifies an exciting opportunity for ValiRx to further expand its portfolio
of innovative cancer therapeutics.

Dr Suzy Dilly, CEO of ValiRx commented: "I'm delighted to announce the start
of our second new evaluation project for 2024 with the signature of this
agreement with Imperial College London.  The scientific developments in this
project display a high degree of quality and innovation with potential
application in an exciting area of research."

Dr Cathy Tralau-Stewart, CSO of ValiRx explains: "I am excited to initiate the
Agreement with Imperial College London, in an area which I have been involved
in for some time and which I believe has the potential to translate to the
clinic efficiently. This evaluation agreement is a further step-forward in
developing ValiRx's drug discovery pipeline. This is the third evaluation
agreement signed in the last four months building a risk-balanced evaluation
portfolio which includes early novel approaches for cancer and later stage
pre-clinical approaches which have some clinical validation."

Dr Paula Cunnea, Advanced Research Fellow, Department of Surgery and Cancer,
Imperial College London: "We are entering an exciting new phase in partnership
with ValiRx to further develop our dual kinase inhibitor drug programme and
unlock the real potential of these novel candidates to combat resistance and
enhance therapeutic options for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Together, we
will seek to deliver a clinical candidate that we hope will alleviate the
suffering of women and their families from this devastating disease."

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to
constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations
(EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR"). The Directors of the Company
take responsibility for this announcement.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

 ValiRx plc                                        Tel: +44 (0) 2476 796496

                                                   www.valirx.com

 Dr Suzanne Dilly, CEO                             Suzanne.Dilly@valirx.com (mailto:Suzanne.Dilly@valirx.com)

 V Formation (Public Relations)                    +44 (0) 115 787 0206

                                                   www.vformation.biz (http://www.vformation.biz/)

 Lucy Wharton - Senior PR Executive

 Sue Carr - Director                               lucy@vformation.biz

                                                   sue@vformation.biz
 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser)  Tel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880

 Liam Murray/Jo Turner/Ludovico Lazzaretti

 Shard Capital Partners LLP (Sole Broker)          Tel: +44 (0) 20 7186 9000

 Damon Heath

 

Notes for Editors

About ValiRx

ValiRx is a life science company focused on early-stage cancer therapeutics
and women's health, accelerating the translation of innovative science into
impactful medicines to improve patient lives.

ValiRx provides the scientific, financial, and commercial framework for
enabling rapid translation of innovative science into clinical development.

Using its extensive and proven experience in research and drug development,
the team at ValiRx selects and incubates promising novel drug candidates and
guides them through an optimised process of development, from pre-clinical
studies to clinic and investor-ready assets.

ValiRx connects diverse disciplines across scientific, technical, and
commercial domains, with the aim of achieving a more streamlined, less costly,
drug development process. The team works closely with carefully selected
collaborators and leverages the combined expertise required for science to
advance.

Lead candidates from ValiRx's portfolio are outlicensed or partnered with
investors through ValiRx subsidiary companies for further clinical development
and commercialisation.

ValiRx listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange in October 2006
and trades under the ticker symbol: VAL.

For further information, visit: www.valirx.com (http://www.valirx.com/)

About Imperial College London

Imperial College London is a global top ten university with a world-class
reputation. Imperial's 22,000 students and 8,000 staff are working to solve
the biggest challenges in science, medicine, engineering and business.

Imperial ranks sixth in the 2024 QS World University Rankings
(https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-top-uni-wur) and eighth in the 2024 Times
Higher Education World University Rankings
(https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024/world-ranking)
. The 2021 Research Excellence Framework
(https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/236379/imperial-research-best-uk-finds-ref/)
(REF) found that it has a greater proportion of world-leading research than
any other UK university. It also received a Gold Award in the 2023 Teaching
Excellence Framework
(https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/the-tef/tef-2023-ratings/)
(TEF). Imperial was named University of the Year in the Daily Mail University
Guide 2024 (https://www.mailplus.co.uk/university-guide) , University of the
Year for Graduate Employment in The Times and Sunday Times Good University
Guide 2024
(https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/best-universities-revealed-uk-university-rankings-rsjkkv99m)
, and awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize
(https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/232196/imperial-awarded-queens-anniversary-prize-covid-19/)
for its COVID-19 response.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/)

 

Cautionary statement

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements.
Such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events
or results to differ materially from any expected future events or results
expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Persons receiving
this announcement should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, regulation or
accounting standard, the Company does not undertake to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
developments or otherwise.

 

 

 

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