TIDMVAL
RNS Number : 7756U
ValiRx PLC
17 July 2018
VALIRX PLC
("ValiRx" or the "Company")
US PATENT GRANT FOR THERAPEUTIC COMPOUND, VAL301
"DELIVERING VALUE & MARKET OPPORTUNITY FOR
VALIRX'S ENDOMETRIOSIS PROGRAMME"
London, UK., 17 July 2018: ValiRx Plc (AIM: VAL), the clinical
stage biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that the United
States of America patent and trademark office has granted a US
Patent for ValiRx's pre-clinical therapeutic compound, VAL301, for
the treatment of the gynaecological disorder, endometriosis or
hormone induced abnormal cell growth in women, for which there is
substantial global unmet medical need. According to DelveInsight,
the endometriosis market is predicted to reach $1.91 billion by
2023.
The patent for VAL301 entitled: "Inhibitors of the interaction
between a src family kinase and an androgen receptor of estradiol
receptor for the treatment of endometrioses," now provides
protection for ValiRx for this indication in the world's largest
pharmaceutical market.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the
uterus, or endometrium, migrates outside of the womb, generally to
the fallopian tubes, ovaries and tissue around the uterus. The
resulting symptoms are debilitating for an estimated 1 in 10 women
in the United States and an estimated 200 million women worldwide
and the condition represents one of the biggest health issues for
females of reproductive age.
The symptoms include inter alia inflammation, severe cramps,
heavy and prolonged menstrual flow, nausea and vomiting, chronic
fatigue, long-term pelvic pain and infertility. Currently, there is
no known cause of endometriosis, and because the development of the
condition is poorly understood, there are no known ways to cure or
prevent it. Its management is often hit or miss, and sometimes
includes multiple surgeries and hormonal treatment. As such, the
condition also has a significant economic impact.
VAL301 has evolved from the Company's peptide (VAL201), which
has been shown to reduce abnormal endometrial growth, whilst
leaving other hormone-induced activities working normally. ValiRx's
initial in-vitro results show a reduction in endometrial lesion
size directly related to dosage and two generations of offspring
produced by treated animals. This strongly suggests that the
peptide does not affect fertility the same way other treatments do.
Also, a pre-clinical study in an animal model has indicated that
VAL301 is unlikely to affect bone density, another unwanted side
effect often reported with hormone therapies. These findings
suggest an important step in the development of precision medicine
for a complex disease that has to date been very difficult to
classify and predict.
ValiRx is currently completing pre-clinical work and preparing
protocols and submission paperwork for clinical trials in
endometriosis.
Dr Satu Vainikka, CEO of ValiRx, commented: "This US patent
grant is excellent news for VAL301 and for our opportunity of
trying to address this little known, but hugely widespread and
debilitating chronic illness, that affects a very substantial
number of women around the world. New targeted treatments with
minimal side effects are needed, particularly when considering the
target patient group - young women of child-bearing age.
"The only treatments available today are pain management via
pain killers, unpleasant and invasive surgery or hormonal
treatments, which are known to have side-effects. VAL301 therefore
offers a potentially effective treatment that does not affect
fertility the same way other treatments do and according to
pre-clinical studies, it is unlikely to affect bone density either,
another unwanted side effect often reported with hormone therapies.
The pre-clinical and clinical development of VAL301 is likely to
greatly benefit from the good progress seen in the Phase I/II
clinical trial of our prostate cancer therapeutic, VAL201,
particularly as far as safety and tolerability are concerned and as
such, I believe we have significant further value to explore from
this asset."
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.
*** ENDS ***
For more information, please contact:
ValiRx plc Tel: +44 (0) 20 3008 4416
www.valirx.com
Dr Satu Vainikka, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0) 20 3008 4416
Tarquin Edwards, Head of Communications. Tel: +44 (0) 7879 458
364
tarquin.edwards@valirx.com
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Tel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880
Adviser)
Liam Murray / Jo Turner
Novum Securities Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7399 9400
Colin Rowbury
Notes for Editors
About ValiRx
ValiRx is a biotechnology oncology focused company specialising
in developing novel treatments for cancer and associated
biomarkers. It aims to make a significant contribution in
"precision" medicine and science, namely to engineer a breakthrough
into human health and well-being, through the early detection of
cancer and its therapeutic intervention.
The Company's business model focuses on out-licensing
therapeutic candidates early in the development process. By aiming
for early-stage value creation, the company reduces risk
considerably while increasing the potential for realising value.
The group is already in licensing discussions with major players in
the oncology field.
ValiRx's two classes of drugs in development, which each have
the potential for meeting hitherto unmet medical needs by existing
methods, have worldwide patent filings and agreed commercial
rights. They originate or derive from World class institutions,
such as Cancer Research UK and Imperial College.
Until recently, cancer treatments relied on non-specific agents,
such as chemotherapy. With the development of target-based agents,
primed to attack cancer cells only, less toxic and more effective
treatments are now possible. New drugs in this group-such as those
in ValiRx's pipeline-promise to greatly improve outcomes for cancer
patients.
The Company listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock
Exchange in October 2006 and trades under the ticker symbol:
VAL.
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END
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