Formation of Scientific Advisory Board

RNS Number : 9238R

Roquefort Therapeutics PLC

06 March 2023

 

6 March 2023

Roquefort Therapeutics plc

("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")

Formation of Scientific Advisory Board to Support Strategy

Depth of scientific and medical experience

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF), the Main Market listed biotech company focused on developing first in class medicines in the high value and high growth oncology market , is pleased to announce the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board ("SAB").

With the Company's focus on the market niche of the cancers that are resistant to existing medicines, developing innovative, patented medicines to target novel cancer targets or immunotherapies to enhance the body's anti-cancer response, the SAB will initially comprise of Professor Jo Martin, Professor Trevor Jones and Professor Armand Keating, who together are a team of researchers, biopharmaceutical innovators and clinicians with an emphasis on linking pre-clinical research, clinical trials, production of medicines and the care of patients .  The Company aims to use its drug development expertise to complete pre-clinical development to reach valuation milestones for licensing transactions or sale of a clinical program.

The SAB will work closely with the Company's Group Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Sir Martin Evans to provide scientific guidance on the Company's strategy as it approaches key pre-clinical milestones and its approach to clinical trials.

Professor Jo Martin CBE

Professor Martin is Professor of Pathology and Deputy Vice Principal Health at Queen Mary, University of London and National Speciality Advisor Pathology NHS England and Improvement.  Prof. Martin qualified at Cambridge University and London Hospital Medical College, and has a University of London PhD and Masters in Leadership. She has over 130 published papers including in Nature Group and Science. She is an award winning eCPD app designer and co-founder of Biomoti, a drug delivery development ovarian cancer company. Prof. Martin developed and leads an innovative multi-million pound adaptive learning programme for RCPath and Health Education England.  Prof. Martin served as a director on the Board of Barts Health NHS Trust for 5 years. She has broad experience in healthcare management including responsibility for local and regional research and for the training and education of over 17,500 staff.  Previously Prof. Martin was National Clinical Director of Pathology for NHS England April 2013-16, and President of the Royal College of Pathologists from November 2017-2020, and is now National Specialty Advisor for Pathology for NHS England and Improvement, chairing the national Pathology Board and the national Pathology Workforce Board. Prof. Martin has led the profession during the pandemic and subsequent incidents related to global and national pressures. She has worked with international charities, including as Chair of the Research Advisory Board of the Motor Neuron Disease Association.

Professor Trevor Jones CBE

Professor Jones has been a scientific advisor to the Company since February 2022. Prof. Jones has had a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry spanning over 45 years, having previously been main Board Director for Research & Development at The Wellcome Foundation (Wellcome plc), where he was responsible for the development of a number of significant products across several therapeutic areas attracting reimbursement, as well as OTC formulations. Prof. Jones also served as a Non-Executive Director of Allergan Inc from 2004 to 2015 during which time the company made a number of key acquisitions.  During Prof. Jones's career, he has served on the Boards of a number of other private and publicly listed companies and industry bodies across the UK, USA and Europe. In particular, he was a former Director General of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry where he directed all the activities related to UK pharmaceutical industry government relations on behalf of national and international pharmaceutical companies. For 12 years he was a member of The UK Government Regulatory Agency, The Medicines Commission and Chair of the UK Government Advisory Group on Genetics Research. He was also a member of the Scientific Board of the EU Life Sciences Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). More recently, Prof. Jones joined the Board of Ascension as a Non-Executive Director, helping advise the company on product development and its commercial activities related to haemophilia and osteoarthritis. He also serves as an adviser to the UK Government on public health matters including COVID-19.

Professor Armand Keating

Professor Keating has been an independent medical advisor to the Company since September 2022. Prof. Keating is an internationally recognised leader in blood and marrow transplantation and cell therapy. He is a Professor of Medicine and of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Previously Prof. Keating was President of the American Society of Hematology and President of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. He has served in a number of advisory roles at the US National Institutes of Health and more recently for the New Organ Alliance and NASA. He held the position of Chief, Medical Services at Princess Margaret Hospital for a decade and was the Division Director of Hematology at the University of Toronto. His research and clinical interests focus on cell-based tissue regeneration, anti-cancer cell therapy, and blood and marrow transplantation. He has conducted laboratory, translational and clinical research in these areas, particularly on the biology and clinical application of mesenchymal stromal cells and NK cells.

Roquefort Therapeutics Group Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Sir Martins Evans said, "I am looking forward to working with Professors Jo Martin, Trevor Jones and Armand Keating who have a wealth of experience in medical research and drug development.  Each member of the SAB brings unrivalled scientific expertise and knowledge that will be invaluable as we progress our novel anti-cancer programs. The formation of the Roquefort Therapeutics Scientific Advisory Board is an important step forward for the Company in what is an exciting period." 

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Enquiries:

Roquefort Therapeutics plc
Stephen West (Chairman) / Ajan Reginald (CEO)	[phone]
Hybridan LLP (Joint Broker) Claire Louise Noyce Optiva Securities Limited (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Christian Dennis Buchanan (Public Relations) Ben Romney / Jamie Hooper / George Beale	[phone] [phone]

LEI: ‎254900P4SISIWOR9RH34

About Roquefort Therapeutics

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ, OTCQB:ROQAF) is a Main Market listed biotech company developing first in class drugs in the high value and high growth oncology segment prior to partnering or selling to big pharma.

Since listing in March 2021, Roquefort Therapeutics has successfully acquired Lyramid Pty Limited, a leader in the development of medicines for a new therapeutic target, Midkine (a human growth factor associated with cancer progression), and most recently acquired Oncogeni Ltd, founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Martin Evans, which has developed two families of innovative cell and RNA oncology medicines.

Roquefort Therapeutics' portfolio consists of four fully funded, novel patent-protected pre-clinical anti-cancer medicines.  The highly complementary profile of four best-in-class medicines consists of:

· Midkine antibodies with significant in vivo efficacy and toxicology studies;

· Midkine RNA therapeutics with novel anti-cancer gene editing action;

· STAT-6 siRNA therapeutics targeting solid tumours with significant in vivo efficacy; and

· MK cell therapy with direct and NK-mediated anti-cancer action.

For further information on Roquefort Therapeutics, please visit www.roquefortplc.com and @RoquefortTherap on Twitter.

 

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