BRIEF—Poolberg spies CAR-T cell opportunity for POLB 001

Poolbeg Pharma has announced the strategic expansion of POLB 001, an innovative targeted therapy which blocks the p38 MAP kinase, into oncology.

The company has submitted a patent application for the use of POLB 001 to mitigate the impact of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in people receiving CAR-T cell therapies.

Poolbeg said it had discovered data “specific to the overt immune response in CAR-T cell patients that suggest POLB 001 as a potential treatment option for this severe complication,” and was gearing up for a clinical trial in this area in 2024.

Brendan Buckley, a member of Poolbeg’s scientific advisory board, said: “By reducing runaway inflammation associated with CRS, POLB 001 has the potential to significantly reduce the serious adverse effects that many CAR-T cell patients suffer.”

He added: “With 18-19 million cases of cancer diagnosed globally each year, the use of cell therapies is predicted to expand significantly over the coming years with the CAR-T cell market expected to grow to an estimated $6 billion by 2031.”