Highlights

  • Research involving Noxopharm’s Sofra technology was presented at the Options for the Control of Influenza XIII Conference.
  • The work explored whether Noxopharm’s oligonucleotides could reduce inflammatory responses linked with self-amplifying mRNA vaccines.
  • Presented data showed reduced interferon-α production when Noxopharm’s oligonucleotide was co-delivered with the Vaccine platform.
  • The research was conducted by global biopharma company CSL.
  • Noxopharm said it intends to continue pursuing external partnerships where they align with its strategy.

Noxopharm Limited (ASX:NOX) has reported new research involving its Sofra technology platform, with data presented at the International Society for Respiratory Viruses’ Options for the Control of Influenza XIII Conference in Washington DC.

Noxopharm shares were trading flat at AUD 0.089 during the morning session on 1 September 2026. The stock remained down 19.09%, or AUD 0.02, over the past year.

The research, conducted by CSL, examined whether novel oligonucleotides developed through Noxopharm’s Sofra platform could help reduce the reactogenicity of self-amplifying mRNA, or sa-mRNA, vaccines.

Exploring Vaccine Tolerability

The work focused on one of the challenges associated with mRNA-based vaccine technology: post-vaccination inflammatory responses.

Noxopharm said self-amplifying mRNA vaccines are being investigated as a next-generation form of mRNA technology, offering greater dose efficiency and more durable immunity than conventional mRNA vaccines. However, the company noted that the reactogenicity profile of the two platforms remains comparable.

To explore whether that profile could be improved, Noxopharm’s anti-inflammatory oligonucleotides were co-delivered with sa-mRNA vaccine material.

The aim was to reduce immune activation that may contribute to adverse reactions following vaccination.

According to the scientific poster presented at the conference, the oligonucleotides showed what the researchers described as “clear promise” in reducing markers associated with vaccine-related inflammation.

Interferon Response Reduced

One of the central findings involved interferon-α, a highly inflammatory immune marker.

Data presented in the poster showed that interferon-α production induced by an sa-mRNA H1N1 vaccine construct was materially reduced when Noxopharm’s oligonucleotide was used alongside it.

The effect was observed even at oligonucleotide doses as low as one nanogram.

The graph included in the research presentation compared the immune response generated by the sa-mRNA vaccine with the response after addition of Noxopharm’s oligonucleotide across blood cells from three human donors.

For Noxopharm, the result adds another potential application for its Sofra platform beyond the company’s internally developed therapeutic programs.

Sofra Platform Broadens

Noxopharm’s Sofra platform is based on synthetic nucleic acids known as oligonucleotides.

These compounds are designed to mimic natural regulators of the body’s defence system and allow more targeted modulation of innate immune signalling.

The platform is intended to either reduce or stimulate specific immune responses depending on the therapeutic objective.

Noxopharm is developing Sofra across areas including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, RNA therapeutics and oncology.

Its lead clinical asset, SOF-SKN, is a topical therapy being developed initially for cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Phase I has been completed, with further clinical development progressing.

The broader Sofra pipeline also includes internally developed and externally collaborated programs.

External Collaboration Angle

The latest research is notable because it was conducted by an external biopharma company rather than being limited to Noxopharm’s own internal development programs.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Olivier Laczka said the presentation demonstrated the versatility of the company’s technology and its potential to work alongside other drug and vaccine development approaches.

He said Sofra could be used in conjunction with technologies developed by other companies across both vaccines and therapeutics.

Noxopharm also sees collaboration as part of its broader development strategy.

Dr Laczka said the company plans to continue pursuing external partnerships where they make strategic sense and expects the Sofra platform to continue attracting interest.

Technology Beyond Internal Pipeline

The vaccine research also illustrates how Noxopharm is positioning Sofra as a platform technology rather than a single-product development program.

The platform’s underlying approach involves regulating innate immune signalling, which provides scope for applications across multiple disease areas and therapeutic technologies.

Within vaccines, the recent research focused specifically on reducing inflammatory responses associated with sa-mRNA technology.

In other areas, Noxopharm is targeting inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and diabetes, as well as immuno-oncology applications in cancer treatment.

The company also cited the broader commercial scale of these markets, noting that the global autoimmune disease therapeutics market was worth US$163.2 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$219.6 billion by 2035.

Noxopharm also stated that the worldwide immuno-oncology market was valued at US$43 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$284 billion by 2033.

Conference Exposure

The research was presented at the Options for the Control of Influenza XIII Conference in Washington DC.

Noxopharm described the event as the largest global scientific meeting focused on influenza prevention, control and treatment.

The conference brought together researchers and specialists in virology, clinical care, public health and vaccine development.

For Noxopharm, presentation of the data at the conference provided external scientific exposure for an application of its oligonucleotide technology in next-generation vaccine development.

What Investors May Be Watching

The update expands the range of potential uses being explored for Noxopharm’s Sofra platform, particularly in combination with other companies’ vaccine and therapeutic technologies.

The immediate data relate to inflammatory markers associated with investigational sa-mRNA influenza vaccines, with the research showing reduced interferon-α production when Noxopharm’s oligonucleotide was co-delivered with the vaccine construct.

The company has not announced a commercial agreement, clinical development timetable or financial contribution arising from the research.

Investor attention may therefore remain on whether the external research progresses into further collaboration, while Noxopharm continues advancing its existing Sofra pipeline and seeking additional partnerships where management sees strategic alignment.