Covid-19 Proof of Concept Update

RNS Number : 8226Y

N4 Pharma PLC

14 September 2020

 

14 September 2020

N4 Pharma plc

("N4 Pharma" or the "Company")

Covid-19 Proof of Concept Update and move to in vivo study

N4 Pharma Plc (AIM: N4P), the specialist pharmaceutical company developing, a novel delivery system for cancer treatments and vaccines, provides an update on its Covid-19 proof of concept work utilising Nuvec® loaded with Coronavirus plasmid.

As announced on 12 August 2020, stage 2 of the proof of concept work was successfully completed with the transfection of HEK (Human Embryonic Kidney) cells of Nuvec® loaded with Coronavirus plasmid in vitro. Following the completion of stage 3 of the proof of concept work and a review of the results, the Company is continuing to explore the utility of Nuvec® with the Coronavirus plasmid and will progress to an in vivo study in due course.

Whilst the single intradermal injection used in the stage 3 pre (pilot) in vivo study did not result in a measurable expression of the spike protein in the target cells of the murine target, neither did the positive control. Additional exploratory studies will continue to understand the translation potency of the Coronavirus plasmid including optimisation of Nuvec® plasmid loading. With this in mind and taken together with previous positive data, the Company has decided to proceed to a full in vivo study to demonstrate the capability of Nuvec® to generate Covid-19 specific antibodies.

The Company is in the process of scoping the programme of studies required.

Nigel Theobald, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The initial pilot work of stage 3 of the Covid-19 proof of concept work was narrow in its scope and, having reviewed the results, we have taken the decision to move to a full in vivo study to establish an immune response through the production of antibodies. In undertaking the work we aim to demonstrate Nuvec®'s capabilities both as a potential delivery technology for multiple vaccines as well as for Covid-19 specifically. I look forward to providing further updates in due course."

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014.

Enquiries:

N4 Pharma plc
Nigel Theobald, CEO	Via IFC Advisory
Luke Cairns, Executive Director
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP	Tel: [phone]
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Matthew Johnson/Caroline Rowe (Corporate Finance)
Vadim Alexandre/Abigail Wayne/Rob Rees (Corporate Broking)
Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Limited	Tel: [phone]
Joint Broker
Andy Thacker
IFC Advisory Ltd Financial PR Graham Herring Zach Cohen	Tel: [phone]

About N4 Pharma

N4 Pharma is a specialist pharmaceutical company developing a novel delivery system for cancer and vaccine treatments using its unique silica nanoparticle delivery system called Nuvec®.

N4 Pharma's business model is to partner with companies developing novel antigens for cancer and vaccine treatments to use Nuvec® as the delivery vehicle to get their antigen into cells to express the protein needed for the required immunity. As these products progress through pre clinical and clinical programs, N4 Pharma will seek to receive up front payments, milestone payments and ultimately royalty payments once products reach the market.

 

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