Coiled Therapeutics' Dr Sotirios Stergiopoulos on Roquefort RTO, AO-252 Cancer Trial Update

Why It Matters

A safer, effective alternative to chemotherapy could transform cancer care and unlock lucrative partnership opportunities for Coiled Therapeutics, driving significant market and clinical impact.

Key Takeaways

• Roquefort RTO creates new publicly listed Coiled Therapeutics entity.
• £8.5 million raised will fund AO‑252 Phase I expansion to 30‑50 patients.
• AO‑252 shows strong safety with no bone‑marrow or liver toxicity.
• Early tumor reductions suggest potential monotherapy alternative to chemotherapy.
• Milestone: complete patient enrollment by mid‑Q3 2026, seek Big‑Pharma partnerships.

Summary

Coiled Therapeutics announced a reverse takeover of Roquefort Therapeutics, effectively relisting the clinical‑stage oncology company on the London market under the Coiled name. The transaction involves licensing the proprietary acid‑based drug AO‑252 from A2A Pharmaceuticals and raising £8.5 million to finance its next development phase.

The newly raised capital will be directed almost entirely toward expanding the ongoing Phase I trial, targeting enrollment of 30‑50 patients by mid‑Q3 2026. Early data have shown tumor reductions with an exceptionally clean safety profile—no bone‑marrow suppression or liver toxicity—addressing a key limitation of existing chemotherapies for prostate and ovarian cancers.

Dr. Sotirios Stergiopoulos highlighted that AO‑252’s safety enables longer continuous dosing and opens combination‑therapy opportunities, positioning the molecule as a potential monotherapy alternative to traditional chemotherapy. He also noted that successful trial read‑outs could trigger discussions with large pharmaceutical partners and broaden the drug’s indication landscape.

If the trial confirms efficacy, AO‑252 could reshape solid‑tumor treatment by offering a less toxic option, attracting strategic alliances, and delivering value to shareholders through a differentiated oncology pipeline.

Original Description

Coiled Therapeutics (AIM:COIL) co-founder and incoming executive chair Dr Sotirios Stergiopoulos talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s planned market debut via a reverse takeover by Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE:ROQ) and the progress of its clinical-stage oncology asset AO-252.

Stergiopoulos explained that the transaction will see A2A Pharmaceuticals license AO-252 to Roquefort Therapeutics, with the combined entity eventually adopting the Coiled Therapeutics name. The deal also includes an £8.5 million capital raise, with the majority of the funds allocated to advancing the ongoing clinical study of AO-252.

The company’s immediate focus is expanding the current Phase 1 trial, with the goal of reaching 30 to 50 patients by mid-Q3 2026, which will help determine the drug’s maximum tolerated dose and further validate its safety profile. Early clinical observations have already shown encouraging signs, including tumour reductions.

Stergiopoulos highlighted the importance of the drug’s safety data, particularly when compared with many existing oncology treatments. According to Stergiopoulos, the study has shown “a tremendous safety profile”, with no significant bone marrow or liver toxicity issues reported so far. This strong safety profile could allow longer treatment durations and open the door for combination therapies.

Looking ahead, the company sees significant potential for AO-252 in cancers such as prostate and ovarian cancer, as well as other solid tumour indications. Stergiopoulos noted the broader ambition of the therapy, saying: “To be able to potentially replace chemotherapy out there would be amazing.”

Upcoming clinical milestones and data expected in 2026 could also support discussions with larger pharmaceutical partners as the program advances.

For more interviews and insights from the global resource and biotech sectors, visit the Proactive YouTube channel, give this video a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you never miss future content.

#CoiledTherapeutics #AO252 #CancerResearch #BiotechInvesting #Oncology #ClinicalTrials #ProstateCancerResearch #OvarianCancerResearch #BiotechNews #HealthcareInnovation #PharmaPartnerships #StockMarketNews