N4 Pharma PLC (AIM: N4P) shares surged after the company announced that its Nuvec® delivery system had successfully targeted non-small cell lung cancer cells in collaboration with leading US research institute SRI International.
Major Step in Precision RNA Therapies
The study represents a significant milestone in the advancement of precision RNA therapies, which aim to improve cancer treatment by delivering genetic material directly into diseased cells.
Researchers demonstrated that Nuvec particles can be functionalised with a targeting molecule that binds to αvβ6, a protein commonly overexpressed in cancers such as lung, breast, prostate, and pancreatic.
Selective Targeting of Cancer Cells
This functionalisation allowed RNA payloads to be delivered specifically into cancer cells, with minimal activity in untargeted cells. The results suggest the potential for more effective treatments with fewer toxic side effects, addressing a major challenge in oncology.
Expanding Potential Beyond Oncology
The findings validate Nuvec as a versatile RNA delivery system, broadening its possible application across multiple high-need cancers.
Beyond oncology, N4 Pharma is also advancing N4 101, its lead programme using a modified Nuvec® platform to target immune cells for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Positioning Nuvec for the Next Generation of RNA Therapies
By overcoming one of the biggest barriers in RNA drug delivery, the Nuvec platform is increasingly positioned as a differentiated tool for next-generation RNA therapies, with applications in both cancer and immune-related diseases.
