N4 Pharma files for new UK patent

(Sharecast News) - N4 Pharma, a pharmaceutical company specializing in RNA therapeutics, announced the filing of a new patent with the UK patent office on Wednesday, for its oral anti-inflammatory treatment targeting irritable bowel disease (IBD). The AIM-traded company said the product is in early preclinical development.

It said the treatment leverages N4 Pharma's proprietary 'Nuvec' delivery system to target macrophage cells responsible for the inflammation associated with IBD.

Each Nuvec nanoparticle combines two RNA elements - siRNA to inhibit the production of TNF-alpha, a key inflammatory mediator, and mRNA to enhance the body's natural anti-inflammatory defenses.

Delivered directly to the gut, N4 said the dual RNA approach aimed to provide more effective symptom relief.

"We are excited by the potential of this product as it not only addresses a strong clinical need to replace injectable TNF-alpha inhibitors and other oral solutions with significant side effects, it also showcases the key features of the Nuvec system, namely the ability to protect the payload, target delivery to a particular cell type and load multiple RNA onto the one nanoparticle," said chief executive officer Nigel Theobald.

"By filing the patent, we are now able to talk in more detail to our investors and potential collaborators about this product and will shortly provide an update on the in-vitro work we have completed giving more detail regarding our approach."

At 1419 GMT, shares in N4 Pharma were up 30.43% at 0.75p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.