Inaphaea BioLabs, the translational Contract Research Organisation (tCRO) wholly owned by ValiRx Plc, will play a pivotal role in the development of a newly established subsidiary, Blue Ribbon Bio Limited, dedicated to advancing prostate cancer therapeutics.
Blue Ribbon will house all prostate cancer–associated assets from ValiRx, beginning with Val201, an investigational peptide therapeutic originally licensed from Cancer Research Horizons in 2010. As part of a comprehensive technical and market review conducted by Inaphaea BioLabs, Val201 has been identified as maintaining strong clinical potential within the prostate cancer treatment pathway. Building on this, Blue Ribbon plans to file new application-based patents to extend intellectual property coverage and enhance its market positioning.
A critical path development plan designed and supported by Inaphaea BioLabs will expedite the validation of improvements to Val201, creating additional value and preparing the asset for future clinical partnerships.
Alongside this, a notice of allowance has been granted for a Canadian “Medical Use” patent (application No. 2,853,671) relating to the use of the Val201 peptide in endometriosis (Val301), broadening the therapeutic opportunities across both oncology and women’s health.
Inaphaea BioLabs playing a vital role in development
Leveraging its growing portfolio of advanced capabilities, Inaphaea BioLabs will directly support Blue Ribbon’s work on prostate cancer through:
- Patient-derived prostate cancer models, developed in collaboration with The Open University
- Cutting-edge non-animal 3D culture systems, delivered through capability partners
- Deep expertise in translational testing across oncology and women’s health
Mark Eccleston, CEO of ValiRx commented:
“We have an opportunity to build a broader prostate cancer focussed portfolio based on current and future pan cancer assets that can be applied in this indication. Having worked on the original pre-clinical development of Val201, I am pleased that there is still a market opportunity for this asset, and we intend to rapidly complete the planned work required to get this back into the clinic in new and improved form. This will build on the initial data package and key opinion leader feedback developed in the earlier clinical trial and development will be applicable to all applications of the peptide, including in endometriosis, so I’m also pleased to announce notification that our Canadian patent will be granted.
We will leverage the combined experience and resources of our tCRO, Inaphaea Biolabs, including the prostate cancer Patient Derived Models that we are developing in partnership with the Open University, with the advanced non animal 3D-culture testing capabilities we have brought in through our capability partners. Several of our current assets, those in our repurposing program with Dominion and other assets under consideration for evaluation and in-licensing can be applied across various stages of prostate cancer as well as our core focus in women’s health. By ringfencing these assets in a portfolio approach, we believe that we can create significant value and attract partners for clinical development.”
Tony Hickson, Chief Business Officer of Cancer Research Horizons, commented:
“Cancer Research Horizons is committed to bringing new drugs to market and supports the development of drugs at all stages, especially in areas of high unmet clinical need. Hormone therapies such as Enzalutamide and Abiraterone have transformed prostate cancer treatment, but most patients eventually become resistant to this form of therapy and there remains an unmet need for new drugs to overcome drug resistance. Val201 has a unique mechanism of action and can be positioned to address these resistant forms of cancer, as well as potentially earlier stages of the disease to mitigate the side effects seen under hormone ablation.
We are pleased that ValiRx and Blue Ribbon Bio will continue with the development of a version of the therapy optimised for clinical impact. With Inaphaea BioLabs at the core of its translational strategy, ValiRx and Blue Ribbon Bio are positioning themselves to advance prostate cancer therapeutics alongside their existing focus in women’s health, while building significant partnering and value creation opportunities.”