Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTC:POLBF) shares climbed 9% to 4.01p after the company secured a European patent for POLB 001, its experimental treatment for severe influenza.
The London-listed group, which develops drugs that modulate the body’s immune response, said the European Patent Office had granted protection for the compound. POLB 001 blocks an enzyme called p38 MAP kinase, part of the body’s inflammation machinery, with the goal of preventing dangerous immune overreactions.
Poolbeg believes the drug could extend well beyond flu. One key target is cytokine release syndrome, a potentially life-threatening spike in immune activity seen in some patients receiving cancer immunotherapy.
The company has previously flagged a market opportunity of more than US$10 billion for treatments that can manage this reaction.
The new patent builds on Poolbeg’s wider effort to secure global intellectual property for the use of p38 MAP kinase inhibitors in both severe influenza and cytokine release syndrome. The group said the decision should bolster the appeal of POLB 001 to potential commercial partners.
Jeremy Skillington, chief executive, said: “This patent grant from the European Patent Office highlights the strong progress we continue to make in developing and strengthening our IP portfolio for POLB 001 across multiple disease indications.
"This further enhances the value and attractiveness of POLB 001 for potential partners.”