Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF) has announced the successful development of new small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences - a significant stride in its mission to create new anti-cancer treatments.
It has also filed a new patent to protect the composition of its siRNA sequences and their methods of use. This move strengthens the company's intellectual property position.
Its latest advances emanate from Oncogeni, an R&D company it bought last September, bringing with it a range of pre-clinical siRNA anti-cancer targets that have shown signs of efficacy in living organisms (in vivo).
Since the acquisition, the company's drug discovery team, led by vice president of drug discovery, professor Graham Robertson, has developed four additional siRNA sequences. These sequences target the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT-6) and its src-homology-2 (SH2) domain.
Underlining the commercial importance of the Roquefort discovery, similar targets have recently been validated by Sanofi in a licensing transaction with Recludix worth $125 million upfront and $1.2 billion in total.
Roquefort's siRNA sequences are currently being developed in combination with nanoparticle delivery systems.
These systems target solid cancers that are difficult to treat and have high mortality rates, such as colon and breast cancer. Results from this development are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023.
"We are encouraged by the recent commercial validations of both siRNA as a therapeutic modality and STAT-6 and SH2 as highly attractive medicinal targets," said chief executive, Ajan Reginald.
"The recent multi-billion dollar licensing deals indicate a high level of interest in this niche in which we were early innovators and were able to acquire strong patent positions before the market valued these asset classes.
"Our siRNA programs target the very attractive SH2 domain and have demonstrated highly specific efficacy in validated STAT-6 models. The patents that we have recently filed consolidate our leadership position in targeting STAT-6 and SH2 with siRNA."