ValiRx Completes First Phase Of Eurostar GeneICE Programme

ValiRx is heading the consortium to take the company’s lead GeneICE product toward human trials and commercialisation. GeneICE compounds are based on proprietary technology, designed for the long-term silencing of genes that cause cancers. ValiRx’s results have shown a reduction of tumour size in cancer models administered with GeneICE.

As part of the programme, a proprietary database construction for GeneICE has been completed and tested successfully. The database allows the identification of both therapeutic targets and product candidates rapidly and allows the effective analysis of various programme outcomes. The company said that speed and simplicity of analysis will improve development timelines and results. As part of the product portfolio strategy, new compounds have been designed and tested in silico. This will allow the expansion of the product range and efficacy along with the intellectual portfolio, including new patent filings.

Reportedly, the design of an optimised second generation GeneICE compound has already been completed. To enhance the therapeutic activities associated with the Eurostar programme, ValiRx has entered into a joint venture with Vivamer, a Cambridge-based biotechnology company focused on drug delivery.

Satu Vainikka, chief executive officer of ValiRx, said: “GeneICE is progressing well in the area of personalised medicine, which is a key trend in the biopharmaceutical industry. The successful completion of the first part of the Eurostar programme lays a firm foundation for our strategy to become a significant player in the personalised, gene based, therapeutic field. The company is continuing with this exciting development programme with the aim of creating a portfolio of commercially successful cancer therapeutics.”