MDK mRNA therapeutics

MDK mRNA therapeutics is a preclinical, first-in-class anti-cancer drug platform developed by Roquefort Therapeutics. It utilizes messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to target and inhibit the expression of Midkine (MDK), a heparin-binding growth factor that is overexpressed in many solid tumors and associated with cancer proliferation, metastasis, treatment resistance, and poor prognosis. The therapeutic approach involves delivering synthetic mRNA designed to interfere with or silence the NEGF2 gene (encoding Midkine), thereby reducing functional Midkine protein levels in tumor cells. Preclinical in vitro studies have demonstrated significant reductions in cancer cell proliferation and migration—key indicators of tumor growth and metastatic potential—in breast and liver cancer models. The program remains at the discovery/preclinical stage as of June 2025[1][5][6][8].