Development candidate chosen for leukaemia program

RNS Number : 9968M

Redx Pharma plc

20 October 2016

 

AIM: REDX

REDX PHARMA PLC

("Redx" or "the Company" or "the Group")

Development candidate chosen for leukaemia program

Redx, the drug development company, is pleased to announce that it has identified a drug development candidate for its reversible Bruton's tyrosine kinase ("BTK") inhibitor program. The compound, named RXC005, has the potential to treat the majority of patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ("CLL"), including those who become resistant to the increasingly used treatment ibrutinib.

RXC005 is equally potent against the most common type of BTK protein implicated in CLL and the mutant BTK protein, which is currently estimated to be responsible for around 60% of the observed ibrutinib resistance. Redx's BTK inhibitor could also offer a reduced side-effect profile compared to ibrutinib.

The Company will now progress studies to prepare the RXC005 program for first-in-human clinical trials. These trials are currently expected to commence in early 2018.

Dr Neil Murray, CEO of Redx, said:

"We're delighted to announce another cancer drug candidate from our innovative development pipeline.  The nomination of RXC005, a novel reversible BTK inhibitor, comes within a month of confirming the planned start of clinical trials for our most advanced program, the Porcupine inhibitor, in some hard-to-treat cancers.

"RXC005 has the potential to become a potent therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients, including those resistant to ibrutinib treatment. We plan to initiate first-in-human studies for RXC005 early 2018." 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

For further information, please contact:

Redx Pharma Plc
Neil Murray, Chief Executive	T: [phone]
Karl Hård, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications	T: [phone]
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Nomad & Broker)	T: [phone]
Phil Davies/ Michael Reynolds
KTZ Communications	T: [phone]
Katie Tzouliadis/ Viktoria Langley/ Emma Pearson

About Redx Pharma Plc

Company website: Redxpharma.com

Redx is focused on the discovery and development of proprietary, small molecule therapeutics to address areas of high, unmet medical need, principally in cancer, infection and immunology, providing a pipeline of assets to larger and emerging companies. By improving the characteristics of existing drug classes to create highly differentiated, novel, best-in-class drugs, Redx has already established a portfolio of 14 proprietary drug programs. Seven proof of concepts have been achieved across five programs, with relevance for respective therapies to treat MRSA, gonorrhoea, bone tumours, skin, brain, breast, pancreatic and blood cancers.

About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia ("CLL")

CLL is one of the most common types of leukaemia in adults. In the US, it is estimated that there will be approximately 19,000 cases of CLL diagnosed in 2016.  Around 3,400 new cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were diagnosed in the UK in 2013. 

CLL occurs where the body produces abnormal levels of white blood cells - specifically B cells. As the disease progresses, the B cells crowd out healthy cells in the blood and bone marrow leaving the body unable to fight infection.

Additional sources:

National Cancer Institute (US) - http://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/research/ibrutinib-cll 

Cancer Research UK - http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/leukaemia-cll#heading-Zero

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

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