Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX, OTC:NOXOF) has renewed its strategic partnership with the Melbourne Hudson Institute of Medical Research, extending the agreement for a further 12 months as the company continues to develop the Sofra™ platform.
The partnership and licensed technology with the Hudson Institute are foundational components of the Sofra™ platform, through which NOX is developing several promising assets, including the SOFVAC™ mRNA vaccine enhancer and SOF-SKN™ topical skin medication for lupus and psoriasis.
Expanding RNA asset portfolio
“In conjunction with the Hudson Institute team, we are making significant progress with our Sofra™ platform and advancing towards our goal of establishing Noxopharm as a leader in Australia in the RNA space,” Noxopharm CEO Dr Gisela Mautner said.
“The commercial opportunities for us are considerable because the RNA market is expanding rapidly and will be sizeable in the future, and our ongoing strategic partnership is therefore a critical aspect of building shareholder value.”
The updated contract will continue to focus on the development of the Sofra™ Platform and building out NOX’s asset library.
NOX says the partnership will be focused on important inflammatory receptors like TL7 and TLR8, and also on broadening the range of proprietary oligonucleotides that can be used to turn various other inflammatory receptors on or off as required.
Growing interest in RNA market
Hudson Institute director and CEO Professor Elizabeth Hartland said: “We are very pleased to be broadening and deepening our relationship with Noxopharm, especially at a time when interest in RNA-related technologies is higher than it has ever been.
“We strongly believe in long-term partnerships with trusted commercial partners like Noxopharm and are looking forward to seeing our work together develop as the year progresses.”
The Hudson Institute is an internationally recognised research organisation at the forefront of discovery science and translational research, and home to Australia’s largest group of inflammation and immunity scientists and clinicians.
One such scientist is Associate Professor Michael Gantier, an expert in nucleic acids biology whose research is opening novel therapeutic avenues to dampen the inflammation that leads to autoimmune diseases.