Alderley Park - Redx (AIM: REDX), the clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel, small molecule, highly targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and fibrotic disease, today announces a collaboration with theGarvan Institute of Medical Research ('the Garvan'), a premier Australian medical research institute, which expands on preclinical work already underway.
The collaboration aims to better understand treatments that could lead to increased patient survival in currently very poorly treated highly fibrotic cancers, such as pancreatic cancer. Through this collaboration, Redx and the Garvan will develop an enhanced understanding of cancerassociated fibrosis through detailed scientific studies utilising patient-derived tumour tissue grown in mice, which is thereby able to mimic human disease as closely as possible. The research will bring together the Garvan's research capabilities and leading preclinical cancer models with Redx's proprietary molecules in development for novel targets potentially implicated in cancer-associated fibrosis, such as Porcupine, ROCK2 and Discoidin Domain Receptors (DDR).
The Garvan is globally renowned for its interest in pancreatic cancer and is currently leading the MoST-P clinical trial programme in conjunction with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney. The programme provides cancer patients with access to targeted therapies matched to the genomic and/or the fibrotic signature of their tumour or tumour environment. RXC004, a Porcupine inhibitor and Redx's lead oncology product candidate, is being tested against RNF43 mutant pancreatic cancer and preclinical work is ongoing to determine if the patient population may be expanded beyond RNF43 loss of function patients to include a wider fibrotic signature in pancreatic cancer. Initial data on proprietary Redx molecules in patient-derived preclinical cancer models from the collaboration are expected to be presented by Professor Marina Pajic, Strategic Program Lead for Precision Medicine for Cancer at the Garvan,at the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Congress, which will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark on 23-25 June 2022. Further data on patient-derived pancreatic cancer models, expected to be published later in 2022, will enhance insight into Wnt-ligand driven tumours, the target patient group for RXC004, which is currently in Phase 2 development for the treatment of genetically selected pancreatic cancer, genetically selected metastatic colorectal cancer and unselected biliary cancer.
Professor Marina Pajic, Strategic Program Lead for Precision Medicine for Cancer at the Garvan Institute, commented: 'We are very pleased to be expanding our partnership with Redx and to be benefitting from its medicinal chemistry expertise to work on a range of molecules under development for these novel targets to discover new therapeutic options for patients with fibrotic cancers, a core area of our research focus.'
Dr Caroline Phillips, Head of Oncology at Redx, added: 'We are thrilled to be combining the Garvan's world-leading research in our key areas of focus, fibrotic cancers and cancer associated fibrosis, to explore the potential of Redx's molecules and novel targets in this leading collaboration. With our focus on fibrosis and oncology and our world-class medicinal chemistry, we are able to contribute a range of molecules from Redx's differentiated pipeline to further research and develop new targeted therapies for these hard-to-treat conditions.'
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About Redx Pharma Plc
Redx Pharma (AIM: REDX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel, small molecule, highly targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and fibrotic diseases, aiming initially to progress them to clinical proof of concept before evaluating options for further development and potential value creation. Redx's lead oncology product candidate, the Porcupine inhibitor RXC004, commenced a Phase 2 programme in November 2021. The Company's selective ROCK2 inhibitor product candidate, RXC007, is in development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial in June 2021. Encouraging safety and pharmacokinetic data has been reported, and a Phase 2 clinical programme is confirmed to start in 2022. Redx's third drug candidate, RXC008, a GI-targeted ROCK inhibitor for the treatment of fibrostenotic Crohn's disease, is currently in pre-IND stage, with Phase 1 clinical studies expected to commence in 2023.
The Company has a strong track record of discovering new drug candidates through its core strengths in medicinal chemistry and translational science, enabling the Company to discover and develop differentiated therapeutics against biologically or clinically validated targets. The Company's accomplishments are evidenced not only by its two wholly-owned clinical-stage product candidates and rapidly expanding preclinical pipeline, but also by its strategic transactions, including the sale of pirtobrutinib (RXC005, LOXO-305), a BTK inhibitor now in Phase 3 clinical development by Eli Lilly following its acquisition of Loxo Oncology and RXC006, a Porcupine inhibitor targeting fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which AstraZeneca is progressing in a Phase 1 clinical study. In addition, Redx has forged collaborations with Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
REDX PHARMA PLC 