Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB) is already well down the path of establishing a rare-disease company, said broker Shore Capital.
Analysts said: “Lead programme POLB 001 is positioned to be the first approved therapy that offers both prevention and treatment options to prevent a cytokine storm in patients receiving cancer immunotherapy.
“POLB 001 could be instrumental in broadening the accessibility of immunotherapy while freeing up beds and reducing costs.”
Shore Capital noted that CRS may not be a rare disease, but patients receiving T cell-engaging therapies predominantly suffer from rare or orphan blood cancers representing a US$10bn market.
POLB 001 looks well positioned to address this market, added the broker. The option agreement in Behçet’s disease increases the rare disease focus.
Elsewhere, programmes are targeting significant unmet needs in important areas including obesity and infectious diseases.