Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB) has secured a US patent for one of its key drugs, POLB 001.
This treatment candidate is designed to tackle severe influenza and related complications such as cytokine storms - a dangerous overreaction of the immune system.
The drug, ready for advanced clinical trials, targets a specific protein involved in inflammation.
By doing so, it could reduce severe flu symptoms and potentially treat other conditions linked to excessive immune responses.
This new patent strengthens Poolbeg’s efforts to protect its innovations and make POLB 001 more appealing to companies interested in bringing the treatment to market.
The company is also pursuing patents for related treatments, including those that could help manage side effects from certain cancer therapies.
"We are excited by the potential of POLB 001 to address critical unmet medical needs and we remain focused on high-value programmes and partnerships to develop and commercialise our assets," said CEO Jeremy Skillington.