Clinical-stage Australian biotech company Noxopharm Limited says a Nature Immunology paper reveals the science behind its immune system platform and opens the door for new drugs. According to Noxopharm, the paper describes the discovery of a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism, which it says is crucial for safeguarding against autoimmune disorders.
Published open access (doi.org/10.1038/s41590-026-02429-2) and titled ‘2′-O-Methyl-guanosine RNA fragments antagonize TLR7 and TLR8 to limit autoimmunity’, the paper describes the science behind the Sofra platform, with Noxopharm saying that insights from the paper have enabled the subsequent development of innovative therapeutics, with Noxopharm’s SOF-SKN emerging as a solution for autoimmune skin conditions.
“Publication of this collaborative work in a peer-reviewed journal as prestigious as Nature Immunology is clear evidence that we are building our Sofra platform on very solid foundations,” Noxopharm CEO Dr Gisela Mautner said. “The sophistication of the research has opened the door to the development of promising new drugs for diseases that have a strong inflammatory component like lupus, psoriasis, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.”
Lead author of the paper was Professor Michael Gantier of Hudson Institute of Medical Research, who is Noxopharm’s exclusive strategic partner in the development of the technology, with three Noxopharm employees also being authors. Additionally, there were contributions from institutions that include: the University of Tokyo, Australian National University, Western Sydney University, Integrated DNA Technologies Inc, the Francis Crick Institute, CSIRO, Monash University and Sydney University.
“After working in autoimmunity for over two decades, the publication of this landmark paper is the result of more than six years of research from my team working in close collaboration with Noxopharm,” Gantier said. “The scientific breakthrough we report revolutionises our understanding of how inflammation is triggered, how it can lead to autoimmune diseases, and the therapeutic opportunities it represents.”
On the significance of the paper, Professor Arthur Krieg from UMass Chan Medical School RNA Therapeutics Institute said: “This tour de force from Professor Gantier and his team has transformed our understanding of how immune sensors for viral infections are normally blocked to prevent autoimmunity. Their elegant and fundamental discovery provides a pathway to support the development of new medicines.”
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