RedX Pharma discovers potential for Porcupine inhibitor drug

RedX Pharma, an AIM listed drug discovery and development company, has issued a statement about the growing potential for Porcupine inhibitors in the treatment of cancer patients, fibrotic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

According to the company’s findings, there is understanding developing around the activation of Wnt/b-catenin signalling pathway and response to checkpoint inhibition in cancer patients implying a role for Porcupine inhibitors in improving immunotherapy responsiveness over and above their potential as monotherapies.

The group has also presented data showing the synergising effect of its proprietary Porcupine inhibitor, RXC004, with an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor. Increasing activity was noted while evaluating Porcupine inhibitors in combination with checkpoint inhibitors like anti-PD-1 elsewhere.

The clinical trial application for RXC004 is being finalised with the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The study will assess the safety of the drug in patients as well as its potential as a monotherapy for pancreatic, biliary and gastric cancers and also examine the prospective synergistic effect of RXC004 combined with an anti-PD-1 agent.

Chief executive Dr Neil Murray said: "We're delighted with the excellent progress our team has made with the Porcupine inhibitor RXC004. As we move ever closer to the start of first-in-human clinical studies with RXC004, it is clear that not just ourselves, but key opinion leaders, competitors and potential partners are getting increasingly excited about Porcupine inhibition as an enhancer of immuno-oncology drugs. In addition, we are moving full speed ahead with our second Porcupine inhibitor which provides a major opportunity as a potential treatment for some debilitating fibrotic diseases."

The share price rose 3% to 33.99p at 1047 GMT on Friday.