A drug candidate being developed by Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTCQB:POLBF) has the potential to "revolutionise the impact of cancer immunotherapies", according to the company's chief business officer David Allmond.
POLB 001 has been identified to target cytokine release syndrome (CRS), induced by cancer immunotherapies.
CRS, a severe and potentially life-threatening side effect of certain drugs, occurs when a large number of cytokines (small proteins that play an essential role in cell signalling) are released into the bloodstream, often in response to certain cancer treatments.
A recent preclinical study highlighted POLB 001's effectiveness in reducing CRS symptoms associated with cancer immunotherapy.
Notably, all tested serum proinflammatory cytokines showed significant reductions following POLB 001 administration. These results, combined with data from the recent LPS human challenge trial, strengthen the case for POLB 001 in both treating and preventing cancer immunotherapy-induced CRS.
An Independent advisory board comprising international key opinion leaders, healthcare payers, and clinical trial experts has endorsed POLB 001, highlighting its potential in addressing the unmet medical needs of CRS patients.
Allmond in a press release unveiling the preclinical results said POLB 001 could allow the use of immunotherapies in an outpatient setting - in other words outside the hospital and, presumably, in the home.
"The pharmaceutical sector is seeking an effective solution for CRS and, as an oral therapy, we believe there is a significant opportunity for POLB 001 to meet this critical unmet medical need and have a positive impact on global health," he added.
Poolbeg estimates its drug candidate opens a commercial opportunity potentially worth US$1 billion a year helping treat multiple myeloma, high-grade lymphoma, and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The broader application across various haematological malignancies, solid tumours, and immune-inflammatory diseases further expands its market scope.
With the American Cancer Society projecting 24.6 million cancer cases by 2030, and cancer immunotherapies like bispecific antibodies and CAR T cell therapy increasingly used in early treatment stages, the demand for effective CRS management solutions like POLB 001 is expected to grow significantly.