Roquefort Thera Regulatory News (ROQ)

10 March 2025

Roquefort Therapeutics plc

("Roquefort Therapeutics" or the "Company")

Board Changes

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ), the Main Market listed biotech company focused on developing first in class medicines in the high value and high growth immunology and oncology markets, announces that as part of a planned transition, Ajan Reginald has advised his intention to resign as CEO and Director of the Company and Prof. Sir Martin Evans has also tendered his resignation as Non-Executive Director, both of which are with effect from close of business on 17 March 2025. Dr Darrin M Disley OBE, currently a Non-Executive Director, will be appointed Interim Managing Director with effect from close of business on 17 March 2025.

Darrin Disley is a seasoned life sciences entrepreneur with a history of value creation in the UK market. His most notable achievement is leading gene editing company Horizon Discovery from start-up phase in 2007 to a £68 million AIM IPO in 2014 and growing the business to generate significant revenues with a global presence before stepping down to pursue other interests in 2018. Horizon was eventually acquired by PerkinElmer in 2021 for a total Enterprise value of £296 million. Roquefort Therapeutics is pleased to have Dr Disley leading the business and his significant expertise will be of benefit to the Company going forward.

Mr Reginald's resignation is part of a planned transition as the Company completes the execution of the first phase of its business strategy via completion of the trade sales of its wholly-owned subsidiaries Lyramid Pty Ltd ("Lyramid") and Oncogeni Limited ("Oncogeni"). Ajan will remain a consultant to the Company and Chairman of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary Oncogeni in order to oversee the proposed sale of Oncogeni to The Nations Trust Holding, as announced earlier today, and to oversee the sale of Lyramid to Pleiades Pharma Ltd. Ajan has agreed to waive the notice period under his service agreement.

Stephen West, Roquefort Therapeutics Chairman commented:

"I would like to thank Ajan for his contribution during his time as CEO of Roquefort Therapeutics and am pleased that he is remaining as a consultant to the business to oversee the Lyramid and Oncogeni transactions. I would like to wish Ajan and Sir Martin well with their future endeavours. At the same time I would like to welcome Darrin as Interim Managing Director and look forward to working with him on communicating the forward strategy of the Company, which will build upon the change in leadership and the successful completion of the Lyramid and Oncogeni transactions." 

Regulatory Information

This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK version of the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").

ENDS

Enquiries:

LEI: ‎254900P4SISIWOR9RH34

About Dr Darrin M Disley, OBE

Darrin is a renowned scientist, entrepreneur, angel investor and enterprise champion who has started, grown, or invested in over 40 start-up life science, technology and social enterprises, raising US$600 million in business financing and closing US$700 million in commercial deals. He was CEO of Horizon Discovery Group plc for 11 years, during which he led the company from start-up through a £68 million AIM IPO, and rapid scale-up powered by multiple acquisitions of US peer companies to become a global market leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies. He was awarded a lifetime Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2016 for his work in promoting enterprise across the UK and appointed OBE in 2018 for his services to business and enterprise in the healthcare sector.

About Roquefort Therapeutics

Roquefort Therapeutics (LSE:ROQ) is developing first in class drugs in the immunology and oncology markets prior to securing a value accretive exit.

Roquefort Therapeutics' portfolio consists of five novel patent-protected pre-clinical anti-cancer and immunology assets. 

For further information on Roquefort Therapeutics, please visit www.roquefortplc.com