2 December 2021 - - Australian clinical-stage drug development company Noxopharm (ASX: NOX) has in-licensed novel RNA technology developed by Hudson Institute of Medical Research, the company said.

The exclusive global contract aims to maximize opportunities in RNA drug discovery and mRNA vaccine manufacture through Noxopharm's wholly owned subsidiary, Pharmorage.

As a first step, Pharmorage will develop Hudson's mRNA vaccine enhancement opportunities, as the mRNA vaccine market is predicted to reach USD 23 bn by 2035.

Though mRNA vaccine technology has had a strong debut, unwanted side effects remain common, including fatigue, severe headache, chills, and injection-site pain.

These are directly related to the body recognizing mRNA therapeutics through the immune sensor Toll-like Receptor 7.

Pharmorage will also focus on advancing Hudson's several lead RNA drugs through development as treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

These RNA drugs target the root of the inflammatory response -- key immune sensors. Pharmorage has experience in this area, evidenced by their work on the development of a first-in-class tank-binding kinase 1 inhibitor, to be used in similar conditions.

Noxopharm Ltd. (ASX: NOX) is an Australian clinical-stage drug development company focused on the treatment of cancer and cytokine release syndrome (septic shock). Veyonda is the company's first pipe-line drug candidate currently in Phase 2 clinical trialling.

Veyonda has two main drug actions, a moderating effect on the ceramide/sphingosine-1-phosphate balance and inhibition of STING signalling.

Activity against the former target contributes to its dual-acting oncotoxic and immunomodulatory functions designed to enhance the effectiveness and safety of standard oncology treatments, i.e., chemotherapies, radiation therapies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Activity against the latter target provides an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as contributing to an anti-cancer action, but also potentially blocking septic shock.

Noxopharm is running drug discovery programs in both oncology and inflammation, and is the major shareholder of US biotechnology company, Nyrada Inc (ASX: NYR), active in the areas of drug development for cardiovascular and neurological diseases.