Poolbeg Pharma PLC has hailed research indicating a market opportunity exceeding $10 billion for its flagship asset, POLB 001, which has the potential to combat a common side-effect of cancer immunotherapy treatments.
An independent team reckons the orally administered drug could revolutionise the management of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), particularly in rare and orphan blood cancers.
Poolbeg's strategy is to develop POLB 001 alongside its portfolio, including influenza and AI drug discovery programmes.
With the acquisition of the former Amryt Pharma team, known for successfully commercialising niche drugs, the plan is to focus on rare and orphan diseases.
"Rare and Orphan disease medicines fit Poolbeg's efficient capital model particularly well," said Poolbeg chief executive Jeremy Skillington.
"Clinical development is typically more cost efficient and the market opportunity remains high because of the high unmet medical need.
"There is also a very active M&A market in this sector which Amryt took advantage of. We see this strategic approach as highly complementary to our existing programmes.
"The former Amryt team that have joined Poolbeg have an exceptional track record, have hit the ground running and are aligned with our vision of rapidly generating revenues and creating value for shareholders."
Recently the pharmaceutical industry has shown heightened interest in cancer immunotherapies, such as CAR-T and bispecific antibody treatments (BsAb), despite the high incidence of CRS affecting patient outcomes.
Poolbeg's POLB 001 emerges as a critical solution in this landscape, aiming to fill the gap for an effective CRS preventative therapy.
The current lack of approved therapies for managing acute CRS underscores the importance of Poolbeg's initiative.
Underscoring the scale of the opportunity, the market for cancer immunotherapies is projected to reach between $100 billion and $140 billion by 2030.
The impact of CRS on over 70% of patients undergoing CAR-T and BsAb treatments highlights the urgent need for innovative management strategies.
Poolbeg's POLB 001 not only aims to mitigate the direct costs associated with hospitalisations, estimated at $5.5 billion, but also seeks to enhance patient access and treatment experience outside specialist centers.
Recent lab-based results showcasing POLB 001's efficacy in significantly improving CRS symptoms and reducing serum proinflammatory cytokines further validate Poolbeg Pharma's strategic direction.
As the company continues to leverage market growth and regulatory incentives for orphan drugs, its developments in CRS management and beyond are closely watched by industry stakeholders and patient communities alike.