[source: Poolbeg Pharma]
Poolbeg Pharma (POLB ), a clinical stage infectious disease company, updated markets today on its POLB 001 treatment for severe influenza.
Poolbeg said the US Patent and Trademarks Office has deemed allowable Poolbeg's claim directed to the use of POLB 001 for the treatment of hypercytokinemia a.k.a. cytokine storm. Poolbeg expects a formal patent grant "in due course".
Poolbeg currently has a worldwide license for POLB 001 for all uses in humans and is developing an IP portfolio with patent protections covering p38 MAP kinase (mitogen-activated protein kinase) inhibitors for the treatment of severe influenza and hypercytokinaemia. Poolbeg is exploring further IP around POLB 001 to cover new disease areas.
Poolbeg already has US and European patents for POLB 001 with claims to the treatment of severe influenza. These patents will offer protection until at least 2037.
Jeremy Skillington, PhD, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma said:
"We are continuing to expand our global patent protection for our growing pipeline of infectious disease products. We are delighted to receive confirmation from the US Patent and Trademarks office that the main claim is allowable, and we look forward to updating the market when we receive the formal patent grant in due course. Enhanced IP protection of our assets across key markets, such as the US, increases the overall value of these products to potential partners. This is particularly important as we move closer to the completion of our POLB 001 LPS human challenge trial, with initial results expected by year end 2022."
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Poolbeg continues to strengthen its IP position around POLB 001 as it continues to explore further applications for the treatment beyond severe influenza.
Poolbeg has already signed a supply agreement for POLB 001, and GMP manufacturing is now completed. Key US patents were granted in May 2022. Today's further signoff by the US Patent Office brings the company one step closer to monetisation.
In the next 6 months, Poolbeg will hit a number of important milestones, including initial results from the LPS human challenge trial for POLB 001 by year-end, and preliminary outputs from its RSV and influenza AI drug discovery programmes by year-end and Q2 2023 respectively.
Poolbeg aims to out-license POLB 001 to US and/or European pharma and biotech partners, targeting revenues from upfront payments and downstream milestones and royalties. POLB 001 should begin to generate value shortly after completion of trials by end of 2022.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, infectious disease has become one of the fastest growing pharma markets and is expected to exceed $250bn by 2025. With its strong cash position of £18.9m as of 30 June 2022, Poolbeg is successfully targeting this growing market.
POLB shares are up 7.1% today on the news.
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