Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB) said it will present data on its drug candidate POLB 001 at a leading medical conference next month
In the lab, the asset showed promising results in preventing cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a severe inflammatory reaction seen in cancer immunotherapy with the results to be shared with the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in San Diego from December 7.
Gathered using a mouse model, the results demonstrated that POLB 001 effectively reduced CRS severity, highlighting its potential as a preventative treatment for this side effect.
CRS affects more than 70% of patients receiving advanced cancer therapies like T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies and CAR T cell treatments.
This condition often results in extended hospital stays and increased mortality risk, limiting these therapies to specialized cancer centres and creating barriers to timely, affordable patient access.
Poolbeg’s findings suggest that POLB 001 could address this gap, offering a way to make life-saving cancer immunotherapies more accessible by reducing the incidence and severity of CRS.
Mark Sumeray, consultant clinical advisor to Poolbeg, said: "These data underscore the potential for POLB 001 to prevent or reduce the severity of CRS.
"If this effect is demonstrated in the clinic, this would enable broader, safer delivery of cancer immunotherapies, including in an out-patient setting. We look forward to sharing these important findings with the global haematology community at ASH."