Poolbeg Pharma has shared promising pre-clinical data for POLB 001 at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, showing encouraging results in the prevention and treatment of cancer immunotherapy-induced Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). The study demonstrated that all doses of POLB 001 effectively reduced CRS scores, suggesting its potential to improve patient safety during cancer treatments.
According to Dr. Mark Sumeray, Consultant Clinical Advisor for Poolbeg, the data revealed a significant reduction in cytokine levels and a dose-dependent decrease in clinical CRS. The study involved comparing POLB 001 with Adalimumab, a well-known anti-TNF antibody, in humanised tumour-bearing mouse models. Mice were treated with either POLB 001 or placebo over five days, and POLB 001 showed a superior ability to inhibit cytokines and reduce CRS scores in an anti-CD28 induced model.
Dr. Sumeray also highlighted the broader implications of these findings, noting that managing CRS could significantly enhance the safety and effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, particularly in the treatment of hematological malignancies. The results showed that POLB 001 reduced peak serum levels of key cytokines such as TNF, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and MIP-1α, without causing harm to other immunological or malignancy-related endpoints.
The study’s positive results lay the groundwork for the development of POLB 001 as a prophylactic treatment for immunotherapy-induced CRS, with Phase 2 clinical trials set to follow. These findings represent an important step forward for Poolbeg Pharma, whose ongoing efforts focus on addressing unmet medical needs and advancing new treatments for cancer immunotherapy-related conditions.
Poolbeg Pharma plc (LON:POLB) is a clinical stage infectious disease pharmaceutical company, with a novel capital light clinical model which enables us to develop multiple products faster and more cost effectively than the traditional biotech model.
