Proactive Investors - Shares of N4 Pharma PLC (LON:N4P) rose 7% in early trade following an update on the progress of its in vitro siRNA research work, particularly with its drug delivery system, Nuvec.
The company has been focusing on loading Nuvec nanoparticles with two different siRNAs, targeting specific oncology pathways. This cutting-edge research aims to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments by preventing tumour escape.
siRNA, or small interfering RNA, is a type of genetic material used to interfere with the expression of specific genes.
It works by binding to and promoting the degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, which are the templates used to produce proteins.
This process, known as RNA interference (RNAi), can effectively silence or reduce the production of target proteins, making siRNA a powerful tool for research and potential therapeutic applications.
Initial studies involved using Nuvec to inhibit EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) in PC-9 cancer cells.
While BCL-2 expression was low, leading to a shift in focus to other cellular pathways, the findings confirmed Nuvec's ability to load multiple siRNAs without altering its size or charge, essential for successful cellular uptake.
Further, the company tested combinations of BRD4 with EGFR and PLK1 with EGFR, observing dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth.
Although there was a reduction in EGFR knockdown when siRNAs were combined, the reduction in cell viability was maintained.
The ongoing research will explore varying siRNA amounts to understand the interaction and achieve functional cell inhibition. This work underscores N4 Pharma's commitment to developing more effective, less toxic cancer treatments that target multiple growth pathways.
The stock was marked 0.05p higher to 0.8p.