Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF) is to present the results of a breakthrough anti-cancer RNA pre-clinical study today at the 29th European Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ESGCT) in Edinburgh.
The results demonstrate for the first time that a splice-switching RNA medicine can impair Midkine action by inducing a change in the Midkine mRNA, which not only reduces full-length Midkine but also generates a non-functional shortened Midkine, Roquefort said in a statement.
Production of truncated Midkine has been shown to reduce the size of cancers in vivo and underpins the potential for anti-Midkine RNA medicines to treat cancer in patients.
Ajan Reginald, Roquefort’s CEO, said: “RNA oligonucleotide-based medicines are an innovative new approach to treat the cancers that are resistant to existing drugs.
“At Roquefort Therapeutics, we are developing a portfolio of anti-cancer medicines to block some of the most novel cancer targets like Midkine and STAT-6. We have shown blocking these factors kills cancer cells.
“For the first time, an RNA medicine has been shown to switch-off functional Midkine production in cancer cells.
“This proof-of-concept study highlights the potential for a new class of medicines blocking Midkine production to target some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. "
The co-authors of the study are Drs Cale and Aung-Htut and Professor Wilton from Murdoch University and Dr Graham Robertson, vice president of drug discovery at Roquefort.
The poster, number P482, is embargoed until the presentation at the conference but will then be available on the Roquefort Therapeutics website.
Further details can be found here: https://www.esgctcongress.com/poster-list