Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF) notified investors that its STAT-6 siRNA has shown to work in an in-vitro experimental model of immunological disease, following direct feedback from potential big pharma partners.
Medicines using siRNA technology are based on disrupting a gene's messaging machinery, with the London-listed biotech's programs targeting the STAT-6 proteins that selectively control how the key IL-4 and IL-13 proteins, which have a key role in inflammatory diseases.
Following Roquefort's successful demonstrations with the siRNA programs in oncology, it has carried out a new set of experiments to investigate the use of the siRNA in the STAT-6 inflammation and immunology (I&I) field, as has been validated by Sanofi and Recludix Pharma last year.
Rouefort said siRNA in these preliminary experiments "demonstrated a significant reduction" in the levels of STAT-6 produced compared to multiple controls at multiple time points, the company said, adding that it would share more details in a scientific publication, international conference and/or peer-reviewed journal once the tests are completed.
This is the company's first result from the ongoing program of development in the I&I field, the company noted, and follows "discussions and advice from potential big pharma partners" as it actively pursues an out-licensing deal for the STAT-6 siRNA program.
CEO Ajan Reginald said: "Today's siRNA results are the company's first in I&I and complement the strong in vivo efficacy results already demonstrated in oncology.
"The STAT-6 siRNA and MK cell therapy programs have both demonstrated significant potential in the attractive inflammation and immunology (I&I) field."
He stressed that the development of these programs in the I&I field is "based on the direct feedback from potential big pharma partners. The STAT-6 field is particularly attractive because of the recent validation by Sanofi and Recludix and our relatively strong competitive position with completed in vivo efficacy experiments."
Reginald added that the company's strategy remains to "complete meaningful partnerships with one or more big pharma companies to validate the business model and to reset the market's perception of the attractiveness of the company. The ongoing transaction with PDC and these siRNA results are key steps in this process, on which we expect to update the market with further milestones in 2024."