N4 Pharma and SRI Advance Targeted RNA Delivery with Nuvec® Platform for Cancer Therapies
Collaboration with SRI demonstrates Nuvec®’s ability to selectively deliver RNA to cancer cells, advancing prospects for targeted, orally delivered RNA therapeutics.
N4 Pharma plc (AIM: N4P) has released new data from its collaboration with SRI International demonstrating the potential of its proprietary Nuvec® delivery platform to precisely target RNA payloads to cancer cells, a breakthrough that could reshape how RNA therapeutics are developed and delivered.
The findings point to a future where common cancers such as lung, breast, and pancreatic could be treated with targeted RNA therapies, potentially in oral tablet form and with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy.
The collaboration combined SRI’s targeting molecules with Nuvec® particles to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) payloads to non-small cell lung cancer cells. Results showed that Nuvec® functionalised with a targeting molecule binding to the αvβ6 adhesion protein, a marker overexpressed in many epithelial cancers, achieved precision delivery and selective uptake. siRNA payloads were active only when carried by targeted Nuvec® particles, confirming their ability to direct therapeutic action to diseased cells while sparing healthy tissue.
“These recent data from our collaboration with SRI are particularly exciting because they represent the first example of the use of Nuvec® for the potential treatment of some of the most common and life-threatening cancers,” said Nigel Theobold, CEO of N4 Pharma.
The results further validate Nuvec® as a differentiated RNA delivery system, supporting its broader application in oncology and beyond. Alongside its potential for targeted delivery, the platform offers multiple advantages including the ability to carry more than one RNA therapy in a single particle, stability suitable for oral delivery, low immunogenicity, and scalability in manufacturing.
“Targeting RNA therapies to particular cell types is highly sought after by companies developing RNA therapeutics,” Theobold added. “We have now demonstrated Nuvec®'s ability to do this in multiple systems, which we believe sets it apart from other RNA delivery methods.”
The global RNA therapeutics market, valued at $13.7 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $18 billion by 2028, is growing rapidly but faces persistent challenges in manufacturing and delivery. Targeting specific tissues and reducing systemic toxicity remain among the biggest hurdles. Nuvec®’s latest data suggest it could help overcome these barriers and support deal-making with RNA therapy developers looking for next-generation delivery solutions.
N4 Pharma raised capital earlier this year to generate data supporting Nuvec®’s key claims, including multi-RNA delivery, targeted uptake, oral dosing, and stability, with the aim of advancing both licensing opportunities and its own RNA therapeutics pipeline. Its lead program, N4 101, is an oral anti-inflammatory therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) designed to showcase the platform’s capabilities.
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BioFocus Newsroom