Valirx wants to make a structural change in science, namely to engineer a scientific breakthrough into human health and wellbeing, through early detection of disease and therapeutic intervention. Research shows that there is a high demand for new personalised medicines and services that enhance patient care, achieve faster diagnoses, and substantially improve treatment outcomes cost effectively.

Valirx is a growing company with a clear business model. We reduce risk in new product development through a rigorous clinical and commercial due diligence process, selecting drug candidates and technologies with evidence-based potential to address the unmet needs of the market. We aim to maximise returns to shareholders by adding value at the earlier stages where value increases per investment unit are the greatest.

The Valirx management team is a mixture of entrepreneurial scientists and business professionals, all with experience in developing medical life science companies. The team is also experienced at transferring technologies and products into the commercial arena to generate revenue and grow shareholder value.

Products & Technologies

ValiPharma is the therapeutics division with two embedded technologies primarily directed at the treatment of cancers. Of particular note is GeneICE, Valirx's technology for controlling rebellious genes, which was awarded a Eurostars grant to the value of €1.2 million to fund the development of the GeneICE products through preclinical stages in cancer treatments.

GeneICE

GeneICE technology exploits the fact that gene expression is controlled by small chemical changes to DNA sequences and to the proteins that associate with them. In particular, acetylation of basic lysine residues in histones – the proteins that DNA binds to form the compact structure of chromatin and, thus, chromosomes – causes the DNA to "unwind" enough to allow gene expression, whereas histone deacetylation causes the chromatin to condense and prevents expression.

Cancer is caused by aberrant gene expression. GeneICE technology "turns off" genes that are over-expressed in cancer by mimicking the natural process of histone deacetylation. 

For more information please click here.

VAL101

VAL101 is a novel therapeutic based on the Company’s proprietary GeneICE (Gene Inactivation by chromatin engineering) platform, which attracted a €1.2 million Eurostars grant to fund its development. It acts to target and switch “OFF” the gene that expresses Bcl-2, a protein that is implicated in about half of all carcinomas. Bcl-2 inhibits the critical process of apoptosis (programmed cell death), which prevents cancer development. Thus, because of its function in anti-apoptosis, the Bcl-2 gene has become a major target in the development of new, superior anticancer therapies. Pre-clinical studies have established VAL101’s efficacy in prostate, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, and may also have anti-tumour activity against orphan oncologic indications.

VAL201

A further late preclinical study into the development of another of our lead therapeutics, VAL201, carried out in collaboration with Oxford University, has firmly established a potentially important role for VAL201 in treating hormone induced refractory prostate cancer and other conditions of hormone induced uncontrolled cell growth including breast and ovarian cancer, among others. These conditions currently have high medical needs.  Following the successful completion of this study, both Valirx and Oxford University now look forward to continuing the next stage of VAL201’s preclinical programme to support the regulatory requirements prior to entering clinical trials.

VAL201 is a novel peptide for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer and also other indications of hormone induced unregulated growth including endometriosis. These conditions have major unmet clinical needs and the personalised approach provided by VAL201 promises to significantly improve treatment outcomes. Pre-clinical studies conducted in collaboration with Oxford University have also established that this compound has the potential to reduce side effects as it leaves other hormone-induced activities working normally.

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Mr Nicholas Thorniley - Chairman

Nicholas first worked in the City for Montagu Loebl and Stanley, becoming a partner in 1974. Whilst there he was a founder member of the London Oil Analysts Group and became Chairman in 1983. He joined L Messel & Co in 1981 as a partner and moved to Panmure Gordon in 1991 as a director and finally joining Investec Securities as a Director and Head of Corporate Broking in 2002. His career in the City spans some 37 years during which he moved from research to sales and on to corporate broking, where he specialised in the small mid cap area. (Member of Remuneration Committee)

Dr Satu Vainikka - Chief Executive Officer

Satu Vainikka has extensive experience in the biotechnology industry, technology commercialisation, equity financing and business management. Prior to her current role as a CEO of ValiRx, she was a founder, director and CEO of Cronos. In her past roles, Dr Vainikka has successfully developed business strategies, negotiated corporate and academic transactions and raised funding for companies. (Member of Remuneration Committee)

Mr Gerry Desler - Chief Financial Officer

Gerry Desler is a chartered accountant, who qualified in 1968 with a City firm, becoming partner in 1970. From 1985 to 1990 he was the Senior Partner. During his time in the City he specialised in consultancy work, much of it involving funding and venture capital. He was involved in one of the first joint ventures in what was then the People's Republic of China in 1980. Gerry Desler is also the Finance Director of Premier Management Holdings plc, an AIM listed company and Babble Group plc and Venture Six plc, both Plus Market listed companies. (Member of Audit Committee)

Mr Kevin Alexander - Non-Executive Director

Kevin Alexander is a solicitor and qualified as a member of the New York Bar and spent over 25 years practising law with major law firms in London and in the United States. Since leaving full time legal partnership, he has been involved with various business interests, both in the energy sector and in private equity. (Member of Environmental Committee)

Dr George Morris - Non-Executive Director

George Morris has over 20 years experience in biological and medical research and financial services. In the past, he has been a CEO, an executive, director and founder of several life sciences companies and a consultant to financial services companies. For the majority of his career he has worked in academic and commercial scientific research. He is an author numerous and an inventor on multiple patents. (Member of IT and Audit Committee)

Mr Oliver de Giorgio-Miller - Non-Executive Director

Oliver has a wealth of experience in the management and commercial advancement of life science companies. He has worked for over 30 years with several global pharmaceutical and medical device companies including Schering AG, Hoffman la Roche, Intavent-Orthofix and Photo Therapeutics, a Cancer Research UK company and he has extensive experience advising a number of other early stage biopharmaceutical and medical device companies.

The information below was last updated on 31 October 2011.

 Updated from ValiRx website 14.03.2012