Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE:ROQ) said it has filed its first composition of matter provisional patent application for a new class of RNA therapeutic drugs targeting midkine.
Midkine is a heparin-binding growth factor, which, when over-expressed, is linked with a whole host of nasty ailments including cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Roquefort’s patent application follows what it termed “very positive pre-clinical trials”.
The scientists involved are basing R&D activities around oligonucleotide technologies designed to create very targeted RNA therapeutics.
Lab-based experiments revealed the company's lead oligonucleotide drug candidates significantly reduced midkine messenger, or mRNA levels seen in human cancer cells.
“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,” investors were told.
Its work in the field emanates LYRAMID, a biotech company spun out from Australian anti-ageing group Cellmid, that was then acquired by Roquefort.
In all, around A$40mln has been invested in intellectual property held by LYRAMID.
The aim is to use this expertise in midkine research to develop first-of-their-kind drugs targeting midkine for COVID, cancer, chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders.