Roquefort Therapeutics plc provided an update on its pre-clinical drug development programs, Randox Licensing agreement and out-licencing discussions. Further to the company's announcement on 6 November 2023, where Roquefort Therapeutics' announced that new test results for its MK cells combined with natural killer (NK) cells demonstrated a profound cancer killing effect across solid, lymphoma and leukaemia in validated in vivo models, the Company has continued studies in validated models of NK cell activation and cytotoxicity and demonstrated an anti-cancer effect in leukaemia. This efficacy was superior to NK cells alone confirming that the MK cells activate NK cells.

NK cell activation is a new field with high commercial potential in which large pharmaceutical partners completed significant deals in 2022 and 2023. During First Quarter 2024 the company's Midkine RNA oligonucleotide and STAT-6 siRNA programs have been undergoing studies in combination with proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems. The initial studies have shown successful encapsulation with the LNPs and biological activity of the combination in liver cancer. Further results are expected to be reported by the end of First Quarter 2024.