5 April 2022

Roquefort Therapeutics plc

("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")

Board Appointment

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ), the Main Market listed biotech company focused on early-stage opportunities in the biotechnology sector, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Jean Duvall as a Non-Executive Director, and the resignation of Mr Mark Rollins as Non-Executive Director.

Ms Duvall is a highly accomplished individual in the biotech and pharma sector, with over 25 years experience in executive roles in the industry. During this time, Ms Duvall acted for Ferring Pharmaceuticals, as one of the Executive Board Members who built the company from a US$700 million to US$2 billion in revenue. During her time at Ferring, Ms Duvall led or co-led over 10 transactions and had legal oversight on over 25 transactions. Ms Duvall has a significant track record in corporate development having led multiple successful M&A, divestment and licensing deals throughout her career. During her time at Elan Corporation, Ms Duvall was responsible for the launch and commercialisation of Tysabri, a treatment for multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, outside of the US in collaboration with Biogen Idec.  She previously had the role of General Counsel at Elan and was legal lead, negotiating the divestment of over $2bn in assets.

Additionally, she has co-founded and led biopharma start-ups including Trizell and Amzell, resulting in multiple products having successful phase 2 and 3 clinical studies. Trizell in particular received several multi-billion dollar offers for its lead oncology gene therapy product, Adstiladrin, which is now in the registration phase. 

Ms Duvall is currently CEO and Co-Founder of ReproNovo, a women's health and reproductive medicine company focussing on R&D and manufacturing with potential products entering phase 2 and phase 1. Additionally, Ms Duvall is a Non Executive Board member of an AIM listed life sciences company, Ondine Biomedical Inc., a  company focused on photodisinfection-based therapies to prevent and treat a broad spectrum of infections, including those caused by drug-resistant pathogens. 

Stephen West, Roquefort Therapeutics Executive Chairman, commented:

"It is with great pleasure that I welcome Jean Duvall to the Company's Board, where she will provide invaluable insight and expertise in helping Roquefort Therapeutics develop and progress our preclinical programmes.  Jean's track record speaks for itself and her knowledge and experience in drug development, commercialising programmes and value creation in life sciences will be a valuable asset to our team. Roquefort Therapeutics is putting together a top team in place and we look to the future with optimism.

"I would also like to thank Mark Rollins for his contribution during the early stages of Roquefort Therapeutics, which is now well positioned to continue its next phase of development with Jean's addition to the Board."

Commenting on her appointment, Roquefort Therapeutics NED Jean Duvall said:

"I am excited to join the Board of Roquefort Therapeutics. The therapeutic potential of Midkine is very interesting and I believe has the potential to meet a number of indications of unmet needs in major markets.  I look forward to working with the team on developing its preclinical drug programme in cancer and to exploring the many other indications blocking midkine could help treat."

-Ends-

Enquiries:

For further information on Roquefort Therapeutics, please visit www.roquefortplc.com and @RoquefortTherap on Twitter.

LEI: ‎254900P4SISIWOR9RH34

About Roquefort Therapeutics

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ) is a Main Market listed biotech company developing products through the pre-clinical phase prior to partnering or selling to big pharma.  The Company is focused on developing first in class Midkine inhibiting RNA therapeutics drugs for the treatment of cancer, chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorder and COVID-19.  Recent progress within mRNA therapeutics has led to a reduction in drug development timelines and costs, increasing the chance of early value creation. 

Through extensive research resulting in validation through publication in over 1,000 scientific publications, Roquefort Therapeutics has identified the potential to exploit the broad therapeutic potential of Midkine for a number of clinical indications of significant unmet need. Roquefort Therapeutics holds the largest global IP portfolio on Midkine. The Midkine blocking drug development markets have significant global market potential (in the multi-billion dollars). Roquefort Therapeutics's pre-clinical programme is currently underway with an initial focus on cancer treatment aiming to improve immunotherapy responses.