London startup to trial drug preventing cancer immunotherapy side-effect
14 reported
A London-based startup, Poolbeg Pharma, is preparing to trial an oral drug at six NHS hospitals that could prevent a life-threatening side effect of cancer immunotherapy known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), or cytokine storm. The drug, POLB 001, aims to make blood cancer treatment safer by stopping the immune system from overreacting and attacking the body. The trial will involve 30 patients receiving Johnson & Johnson’s blood cancer medication teclistamab (Tecvayli) and will be led by the University of Manchester and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Poolbeg’s chief executive, Jeremy Skillington, stated that about 70% of people receiving certain cancer immunotherapies develop CRS, which can require intensive care, and there is currently no approved therapy for its prevention. The drug, originally developed for chronic inflammation and acquired from Spain’s Palau Pharma, works by blocking a specific cell signaling pathway. Poolbeg expects interim data from the trial by the end of the summer.
What’s reported
Poolbeg Pharma is a London-based startup.
The drug POLB 001 is an oral medication.
The trial will take place at six NHS hospitals in Britain.
The drug is intended to prevent cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in cancer immunotherapy patients.
The trial will test the drug on 30 people receiving Johnson & Johnson’s teclistamab (Tecvayli).
The trial is led by the University of Manchester and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
About 70% of people receiving immunotherapies from J&J, Gilead, Novartis, AstraZeneca and others develop CRS.
There is no approved therapy for CRS prevention at the moment.
The drug was acquired from Spain’s Palau Pharma and originally developed for chronic inflammation.
Poolbeg expects interim data from the trial by the end of the summer.
Poolbeg estimates about half a million people diagnosed with multiple myeloma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma will receive immunotherapy by 2031 in the US and five biggest European countries.
Based on a potential price of $20,000 (£15,000) per treatment, the market could be worth $10bn, according to Skillington.
Poolbeg is also developing a GLP-1 weight loss pill to be tested in 20 healthy volunteers with a BMI over 30 later this year.
The company was spun out of hVIVO in July 2021 and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Aim market, raising £25m.
Key figures
Jeremy Skillington, chief executive of Poolbeg Pharma
Dr Carel Le Roux, professor of metabolic medicine at Ulster University
Cathal Friel, co-founder of Poolbeg Pharma
Prof John Oxford, associated with Retroscreen Virology
Sources: The Guardian
