Successful Outcome from TYK2 Feasibility Study

RNS Number : 2319N

Sareum Holdings PLC

24 October 2016

 

(AIM: SAR)

24 October 2016

SAREUM HOLDINGS PLC

("Sareum" or "the Company")

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME FROM TYK2 CANCER FEASIBILITY STUDY

Study part funded by £140,000 award from the Innovate UK BioMedical Catalyst

Positive result supports case to advance programme further

Sareum (AIM:SAR), the specialist cancer drug discovery and development business, is pleased to announce a successful conclusion from its feasibility study into the potential for its TYK2 programme lead molecules to treat T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (T-ALL).

This investigation culminated in a T-ALL disease model study in which Sareum's compounds, dosed orally, were well tolerated, presented good exposure to plasma and tumour tissue and showed a dose-dependent effect on a biomarker of TYK2 inhibition and tumour reduction of up to 80%. T-ALL is a rare type of leukaemia that most often occurs in late childhood and early adolescence. A patent application to protect the new intellectual property arising from this successful research has been filed.

Sareum announced on 17 June 2015 that it had received notification from the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK, of its success in its application to the BioMedical Catalyst for funding of up to £140,000.

The Company has previously demonstrated the efficacy of its lead TYK2 molecules in models of autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, in collaboration with co-development partners, SRI International. There is evidence in the scientific literature that TYK2 inhibition may be a strategy for treating T-ALL and the funding award from Innovate UK enabled Sareum to validate the feasibility of this novel approach. These is also literature evidence that TYK2 signalling is important in other cancer types and in resistance to certain types of targeted cancer therapies. Sareum has made its TYK2 inhibitors available to a number of academic institutions to enable them to investigate this further.

Sareum's CSO, Dr. John Reader, commented:

"We are delighted with the outcome of this study. It has successfully demonstrated the potential of our TYK2 inhibitors to treat this leukaemia. We believe commercial interest in this programme should increase further as a result, and we are grateful to Innovate UK for their financial support. The positive results from this feasibility award may lead to other opportunities to secure additional funding awards to advance the programme further."

For further information:

Sareum Holdings plc
Tim Mitchell	01223 497 700
WH Ireland Limited (Nominated Adviser and Co-Broker)
Chris Fielding / Nick Prowting	020 7220 1666
Hybridan LLP (Co-Broker)
Claire Noyce / William Lynne	020 3764 2341/2342
The Communications Portfolio (Sareum Media enquiries)
Ariane Comstive [e-mail]	07785 922 354

Notes for editors:

Sareum is a drug discovery and development company delivering targeted small molecule therapeutics, focusing on cancer and autoimmune disease, for licensing to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies at the preclinical or early clinical trials stage.

Sareum operates an outsourced research model, working with international collaborators and a world-wide network of research providers. Its most advanced programme (Chk1) commenced clinical trials in May 2016 and was licensed to NASDAQ-listed ProNAi Therapeutics in September 2016.

SKIL® (Sareum Kinase Inhibitor Library) is Sareum's drug discovery technology platform that has so far produced the Company's Aurora+FLT3 and TYK2 kinase cancer and autoimmune disease research programmes, which are in the IND-enabling preclinical and lead optimisation stages respectively. SKIL® can also generate drug research programmes against other kinase targets.

Sareum Holdings plc is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol SAR. For further information, please visit www.sareum.co.uk

T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (T-ALL) is a rare type of leukaemia that is more common in older children and teenagers. It affects a type of white blood cell called T-cells. It is aggressive and progresses quickly. Around 200 people are diagnosed with T-ALL in the UK every year. It usually occurs in late childhood or early adolescence and is significantly more common in boys than girls.

The BioMedical Catalyst is an integrated translational funding programme, jointly operated by the Medical Research Council and Innovate UK, providing responsive and effective support for the best life science opportunities arising in the UK. The BioMedical Catalyst has awarded over £250M to accelerate medical research, and has supported over 180 business led projects.  On 1 October 2016, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond committed a further £100 million to the BioMedical Catalyst.

Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency. Taking a new idea to market is a challenge. Innovate UK funds, supports and connects innovative businesses through a unique mix of people and programmes to accelerate sustainable economic growth. For further information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk

Catalysts are run jointly by Innovate UK and the Research Councils. A Catalyst is a form of research and development funding which focuses on a specific priority area and aims to help take projects from research to as close to commercial viability as possible. The Catalyst model supports projects in priority areas where the UK research base has a leading position and where there is clear commercial potential. Current Catalysts include: Biomedical Catalyst, Agri-tech Catalyst and the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst. For more details please visit: https://www.gov.uk/innovation-get-details-about-innovate-uk-funding-competitions#catalysts

 

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