ValiRx Plc (LON:VAL) is to accelerate the pre-clinical trials of its VAL101 cancer-fighting molecule after making a breakthrough with its development.
VAL101 is based on ValiRx’s proprietary GeneICE platform and works by switching off the gene that expresses Bcl-2 – a protein that is implicated in about half of all carcinoma cancers.
READ: Cancer-focused ValiRx inks licensing agreement with Bangladeshi group Mystic Pharmaceuticals
The first generation of the molecule was successful in reducing Bcl-2 and killing the cancer cells but it needed a few tweaks here and there to make it ready for commercial production.
In early afternoon trading, ValiRx shares were 5.9% higher at 1.8p.
Second generation headed for the clinic
ValiRx went away and developed an optimised second generation, which has shown “improved technical efficacy and commercially viable efficient manufacturing” whilst still reducing Bcl-2.
“As such, ValiRx will accelerate VAL101's late pre-clinical studies in preparation for the compound's entry into the clinic,” read this morning’s update.
VAL101 is based on ValiRx’s GeneICE technology platform, which looks to develop compounds that can seek out “rebellious genes” which cause cancer and shut them down.
“We at ValiRx along with our partners are very excited about the potential of the GeneICE platform technology and we are delighted to be able to show the successful optimisation and production of any molecule from this platform,” said chief executive Satu Vainikka.
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