Launch of Nuvec® Oncology Treatment Programme

RNS Number : 5684E

N4 Pharma PLC

09 November 2020

 

9 November 2020

N4 Pharma plc

("N4 Pharma" or the "Company")

Launch of Nuvec® Oncology Treatment Programme

N4 Pharma Plc (AIM: N4P), the specialist pharmaceutical company developing Nuvec®, a novel delivery system for cancer treatments and vaccines, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Nanomerics Limited ("Nanomerics") to investigate the potential utility of Nuvec® in cancer therapy. The project will explore the role of Nuvec® as a delivery system for DNA and SiRNA. The initial aim is to test a silica based, delivery system in a proof of concept preclinical tumour model (the "Oncology Programme").

Based at UCL's School of Pharmacy, Nanomerics' scientists have been developing and evaluating gene delivery systems for over two decades including the delivery of genes to tumours. Having worked with the Company since mid-February, the team at Nanomerics has applied its existing gene therapy delivery expertise with what it has learnt about Nuvec® in scoping out the two stage work programme to assess the potential for Nuvec® as a delivery system for oncology therapeutics.

Stage one will focus on the formulation of Nuvec® with a therapeutic DNA plasmid. Stage two will see the candidate formulation evaluated in vivo in a subcutaneous tumour model to examine tumour regression following multiple local or systemic injections.

The two stage programme, which is commencing immediately, is expected to take up to twelve months and will run in parallel to the Company's ongoing vaccine delivery work.

Nigel Theobald, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented:

"We are very excited to commence our Oncology Programme with Nanomerics in what could be a third commercial application for Nuvec® in a hugely significant market. Not only could Nuvec® have the potential to deliver therapeutic nucleic acids to target tumours, but also due to the structure of Nuvec® with its hollow core, it is feasible that it could be developed as a combination product whereby it carries an external nucleic acid load and an internal small molecule chemotherapeutic. Such potential could make Nuvec® very attractive as a possible delivery system for oncology therapeutics."

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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