LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Specialist pharmaceutical company N4 Pharma has appointed Nanomerics to investigate the potential utility of its 'Nuvec' delivery system in cancer therapy.

The AIM-traded firm said the project would explore the role of Nuvec as a delivery system for DNA and SiRNA, with an initial aim to test a silica-based delivery system in a proof-of-concept preclinical tumour model.

Based at UCL's School of Pharmacy, Nanomerics' scientists have developed and evaluated gene delivery systems for more than two decades, including the delivery of genes to tumours.

Having worked with N4 Pharma since mid-February, the board said Nanomerics had applied its existing gene therapy delivery expertise with what it had learnt about Nuvec in scoping out the two-stage work programme to assess the potential for Nuvec as a delivery system for oncology therapeutics.

The first stage would focus on the formulation of Nuvec with a therapeutic DNA plasmid, and the second stage would see the candidate formulation evaluated in vivo in a subcutaneous tumour model, to examine tumour regression following multiple local or systemic injections.

N4 Pharma said the two stage programme, which was starting immediately, was expected to take up to 12 months, and would run in parallel to its ongoing vaccine delivery work.

"We are very excited to commence our oncology programme with Nanomerics in what could be a third commercial application for Nuvec in a hugely significant market," said chief executive officer Nigel Theobald.

"Not only could Nuvec have the potential to deliver therapeutic nucleic acids to target tumours, but also due to the structure of Nuvec with its hollow core, it is feasible that it could be developed as a combination product whereby it carries an external nucleic acid load and an internal small molecule chemotherapeutic.

"Such potential could make Nuvec very attractive as a possible delivery system for oncology therapeutics."

At 1418 GMT, shares in N4 Pharma were down 19.35% at 5p.

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