Roquefort Therapeutics provided an update on the development of the Midkine mRNA and STAT-6 siRNA programs. Midkine mRNA Program Milestone - Further to the announcement on 6 February 2024, where Roquefort Therapeutics announced that its mRNA therapeutics were undergoing studies in combination with proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems, the Company has continued development in validated in vivo models. These latest experiments combined the mRNA with a LNP delivery system in a validated in vivo model of liver cancer and demonstrated the safety and efficacy in reducing functional Midkine of the novel mRNA LNP combination. This represents a significant milestone in both the discovery of a novel mRNA therapeutic and in the safe combination with an LNP to allow for the delivery of the mRNA as an anti-cancer medicine.

Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for more than 700,000 deaths each year. Midkine is associated with liver cancer progression, resistance and prognosis. A novel therapeutic that targets Midkine expressing liver cancers with the mRNA technology offers the potential for a first-in-class medicine in the $3 billion liver cancer market.