29 February 2024

ValiRx PLC ("ValiRx" or the "Company")

Proposed Appointment of Non-Executive Director

London, UK - ValiRx Plc (AIM: VAL), a life science company focusing on early-stage cancer therapeutics and women's health is pleased to announce that, subject to normal regulatory due diligence, it intends to appoint Martin Gouldstone as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

Martin is currently CEO of Oncimmune Holdings plc and has 30 years of corporate finance and business development experience in contract research organisations, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Previously, Martin was a Global Senior Vice President of Business Development at Owkin, Inc., where he managed the commercial teams in the USA and Europe and led new strategic research partnerships. More recently, Martin was Chief Business Officer at Sensyne Health; Global Senior Vice President and Head of Capital Solutions for Syneos Health; Chief Business Officer at BenevolentAI.

Martin was previously a Partner at Results Healthcare (now CG Results Healthcare), where he co-led the healthcare practice; Head of Lifesciences in the UK for BDO, M&A Lead for Europe at Quintiles (now IQVIA Inc), and held business development and licensing lead roles at Confirmant Ltd and Sareum Holdings PLC. Martin has extensive experience buying and selling deals across Europe and the US, and in negotiating multi-year research partnerships.

Currently, Martin is also a Non-Executive Director of hVIVO plc (formerly Open Orphan plc) and sits on the Board of Trustees of Orthopaedic Research UK. Martin holds a BSc in Genetics and has completed a range of postgraduate management courses.

Dr Kevin Cox, Chair of ValiRx PLC, commented "Martin will be an invaluable addition to the Board of ValiRx and his extensive experience in our sector will provide help and advice across all areas of the business. I am delighted that he shares our vision for ValiRx and look forward to working with him." 

Dr Suzy Dilly, CEO of ValiRx PLC commented "I'm delighted to be working with Martin, drawing on his breadth of commercial experience in business growth and deal making, bringing support to both our licencing activities and helping in the growth of Inaphaea Biolabs."

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR"). The Directors of the Company take responsibility for this announcement.

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Notes for Editors

About ValiRx

UValiRx is a life science company focused on early-stage cancer therapeutics and women's health, accelerating the translation of innovative science into impactful medicines to improve patient lives.

ValiRx provides the scientific, financial, and commercial framework for enabling rapid translation of innovative science into clinical development.

Using its extensive and proven experience in research and drug development, the team at ValiRx selects and incubates promising novel drug candidates and guides them through an optimised process of development, from pre-clinical studies to clinic and investor-ready assets.

ValiRx connects diverse disciplines across scientific, technical, and commercial domains, with the aim of achieving a more streamlined, less costly, drug development process. The team works closely with carefully selected collaborators and leverages the combined expertise required for science to advance.

Lead candidates from ValiRx's portfolio are outlicensed or partnered with investors through ValiRx subsidiary companies for further clinical development and commercialisation.

ValiRx listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange in October 2006 and trades under the ticker symbol: VAL.

For further information, visit: www.valirx.com

Cautionary statement

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any expected future events or results expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Persons receiving this announcement should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, regulation or accounting standard, the Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.