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(Alliance News) - N4 Pharma PLC on Wednesday said it will begin experiments on its Nuvec system on Friday this week with results due in around two months.
Shares in N4 were up 20% at 4.30 pence in afternoon trade.
Speaking at the company's annual general meeting, Chief Executive Nigel Theobald said the Nuvec nanoparticle delivery system, which is intended for use in delivering vaccines and cancer treatments, has been shown to consistently promote transfection in in vitro experiments.
However, N4 Pharma has experienced some issues with in vivo testing of Nuvec - that is, testing that takes place in a living organism - which could not replicate the results of in vitro testing.
Theobald noted the primary in vivo study also showed Nuvec to be effective given that "a measurable antibody response was achieved" but subsequent in vivo studies used different methods from the primary study and did not produce the same result.
The decision has therefore been made to repeat the successful tests and then use these to determine the precise methodology and loading protocol for use in future testing. The University of Queensland, which conducted the primary study, has approved the new tests.
Theobald said: "The directors of the company are mindful that Nuvec will not work first time for every application and in every experiment. There are many variables to consider in any pre-clinical experiment, such as the antigen itself, how to load it onto Nuvec, the dose, the concentration of Nuvec and injection volume and understanding how these factors can cause inconsistency is an important part of Nuvec's development.
"The directors remain confident Nuvec has the potential to be an innovative and effective delivery system in the field of nucleic acid vaccines and therapeutics."
Separately, N4 announced all the resolutions put forward at its annual general meeting were passed.
