N4 Pharma Plc (LON:N4P), the specialist pharmaceutical company developing Nuvec®, a novel delivery system for cancer treatments, gene therapy and vaccines, has provided a further encouraging update on its ongoing in vitro siRNA research work.
The Company has now completed its in-vitro experiments combining EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and PLK1 (Polo Like Kinase 1) siRNA molecules onto the same Nuvec® nanoparticle and testing it in PC9 lung cancer cells.
The work clearly shows that there is a strong beneficial effect at 48 hours on cellular inhibition compared to single dose siRNA, by combining both EGFR and PLK1 onto the same particle.
Specifically, when cells were treated with the highest dose of 75nanomolars (nm) of single loaded EGFR siRNA, cell viability after 48 hours dropped to 38%. When cells were treated with 75nm of single loaded PLK1 siRNA cell viability dropped to 33%, yet when 75nm of EGFR and PLK1 were combined together cell viability dropped to 19%.
The cellular inhibition effect increases over time up to 48 hours and increases with the amount of siRNA applied. The experiments were carried out a number of times showing a consistent effect.
The Company will now expand this work by testing knockdown of EGFR alongside BRD4 (Bromodomain-containing-protein 4) and extend the EGFR/PLK1 data in a different cell line.
Nigel Theobald, Chief Executive Officer of N4 Pharma, commented:
“The work we are doing on multiple loading of siRNA onto one nanoparticle is extremely encouraging and is showcasing the versatility of our Nuvec® delivery system.
“This ability to be able to knockdown two independent pathways leading to a positive added impact is an innovative approach in developing novel cancer treatments aimed at reducing the ability for tumour escape. We will continue to present this data to potential licensing partners as all this work strengthens the potential for collaboration opportunities.”
