Oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotides, also known as ‘oligos’, are a class of therapeutics that act as synthetic versions of naturally occurring nucleic acids, such as RNA and DNA, that make up our genetic material.

Lab-made oligonucleotides are short, usually made up of 10 to 50 individual building blocks called nucleotides. While natural DNA and RNA can be millions of nucleotides long, these short synthetic strands of nucleic acids are designed to regulate specific targets within the cell.

Oligo-based medicines have become an established treatment strategy with multiple therapeutics gaining US FDA approval for use in patients across a range of diseases. This success is built upon decades of global research and efforts to translate this technology into the highly effective and safe forms used today.

Most existing oligo therapeutics use their close resemblance to natural RNA to modulate gene expression as the basis of their effectiveness.

However, through collaborative research with Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Noxopharm has identified a novel mechanism by which the body’s RNA acts as a natural regulator of the immune system.

This new understanding gives us an opportunity to utilise the inherent ability of oligonucleotides to mimic RNA biology, enabling the rational design of synthetic versions of these immune regulators.

By combining the extensive developments behind oligo-based medicines with this new biological insight, the company has developed the Sofra™ technology platform.

Sofra oligonucleotides represent a new approach to drug design with potential applications across a range of diseases with significant unmet need, including autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer immunotherapy, and the enhancement of RNA-based therapeutics.

The strategic-timing opportunity of this discovery has allowed the platform to be supported by a robust intellectual property portfolio, further strengthened by exclusive licensing arrangements with Hudson Institute.