TIDMPOLB
RNS Number : 0541A
Poolbeg Pharma PLC
21 September 2022
Poolbeg Pharma plc
Poolbeg completes in-licence of Melioidosis vaccine
candidate
Targeting an infectious disease with a high mortality rate and
growing incidence driven by climate change
21 September 2022 - Poolbeg Pharma (AIM: POLB, OTCQB: POLBF,
'Poolbeg' or the 'Company'), a clinical stage infectious disease
pharmaceutical company with a unique capital light clinical model,
announces that further to the Option Agreement announced in
December 2021 , Poolbeg has signed an exclusive Licence Agreement
with University College Dublin (UCD) through NovaUCD, the
University's knowledge transfer office, for a late preclinical
stage vaccine candidate for Melioidosis, a disease for which there
is no current approved vaccine available.
The vaccine candidate, which is being developed by Poolbeg as
POLB 003, was invented following many years of research by
Associate Professor Siobhán McClean, UCD School of Biomolecular and
Biomedical Science, and was a recipient of a Wellcome Trust Award
to aid its development.
Associate Professor McClean completed some of the original
research to identify the antigens associated with the Melioidosis
vaccine candidate at TU Dublin.
Melioidosis, also known as Whitmore's disease, is caused by the
bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, Poolbeg identified the disease
as an infectious disease of interest because of its rising
incidence around the world due to climate change and its resistance
to antibiotic treatment. As a US Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) designated biothreat, there is an increasing
global need to develop effective vaccines and antibiotics to
prevent and treat this disease.
As part of the Company's Option Agreement with UCD, Poolbeg
continues to evaluate five other potential vaccine candidates being
developed by Associate Professor McClean and her team. This
includes Escherichia coli (O157); a powerful toxin that can
severely harm children and elderly and leave lasting kidney damage
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; a highly antibiotic resistant bacteria
which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic
fibrosis. As well as Klebsiella pneumoniae which is a prevalent
issue in US Defence and healthcare settings resulting in burdensome
management of complications, Burkholderia cepacia complex; a
significant cause of hospital-acquired infections with large impact
on health budgets and Acinetobacter baumannii which poses a threat
to immuno- compromised patients in care settings such as cystic
fibrosis patients.
Jeremy Skillington, PhD, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma said:
"Melioidosis presents a growing threat to global health as an
infectious disease with no approved vaccine and a high mortality
rate. POLB 003 is being developed in line with our capital light
approach and represents a significant opportunity for Poolbeg.
Combined with the Company's expertise in infectious diseases it
provides the perfect combination to contribute to the global
response to this unmet-medical need and potential to generate
significant returns for our investors."
Siobhán McClean, PhD, Associate Professor , UCD and inventor of
MelioVac , said: "This partnership with Poolbeg will enable the
further development of this important vaccine candidate. We are
pleased to be bringing our technology, and Poolbeg's vaccine
development expertise and industry network together to fight this
growing infectious disease."
- Ends -
Enquiries
Poolbeg Pharma Plc
Jeremy Skillington, CEO +44 (0) 20 7183
Ian O'Connell, CFO 1499
finnCap Ltd (Nominated Adviser & Joint
Broker)
Geoff Nash, James Thompson, Charlie
Beeson,
Sunila de Silva (ECM), Nigel Birks +44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Singer Capital Markets (Joint Broker)
Phil Davies, Sam Butcher +44 (0) 20 7496 3000
J&E Davy (Joint Broker)
Anthony Farrell, Niall Gilchrist +353 (0) 1 679 6363
Instinctif Partners 44 (0) 20 7457 2020
Melanie Toyne Sewell, Rozi Morris, poolbeg@instinctif.com
Tim Field
Notes to Editors
About Melioidosis
Caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, commonly
found in the soil and surface groundwater of many tropical and
subtropical regions, Melioidosis causes a diverse range of symptoms
including pneumonia and severe sepsis with multiple organ
abscesses. There are an estimated 165,000 cases of Melioidosis each
year, of which as many as 89,000 (54%) are estimated to be fatal.
It is widespread in South-East Asia, Northern Australia and India,
but the warming climate is having a substantial impact on the
spread of the disease to new areas such as Brazil and traditionally
non-tropical areas. As a US Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) designated biothreat, there is an increasing
global need to develop effective vaccines and antibiotics to
prevent and treat this disease.
About POLB 003
Through an extensive characterisation of the protein structures
present on the bacteria's surface, the team at University College
Dublin identified a homologue of the common OmpW bacterial antigen
specific to this strain, called BpOmpW. Preclinical studies using
this antigen showed significant survival benefit when challenged
with the Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacteria which causes
Melioidosis . Similarly, so-called correlates of protection, which
provide an indication of the protection status of a subject, were
much improved including increased IFN-<GAMMA> production and
an enhanced T-Cell response profile, both of which have a proven
role in protection against Melioidosis.
About Poolbeg Pharma
Poolbeg Pharma is a clinical stage infectious disease
pharmaceutical company, with a unique capital light clinical model
which aims to develop multiple products faster and more cost
effectively than the conventional biotech model. The Company,
headquartered in London, is led by a team with a track record of
creation and delivery of shareholder value and aspires to become a
"one-stop shop" for pharma and biotech seeking mid-stage products
to license or acquire.
The Company is targeting the growing infectious disease market.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious disease has become
one of the fastest growing pharma markets and is expected to exceed
$250bn by 2025.
With its initial assets from Open Orphan plc , an industry
leading infectious disease and human challenge trials business,
Poolbeg has access to knowledge, experience, and clinical data from
over 20 years of human challenge trials. The Company is using these
insights to acquire new assets as well as reposition clinical stage
products, reducing spend and risk. Amongst its portfolio of
exciting assets, Poolbeg has a small molecule immunomodulator for
severe influenza (POLB 001) which has commenced its LPS human
challenge trial with initial results expected by year end 2022; a
first-in-class, intranasally administered RNA-based immunotherapy
for respiratory virus infections (POLB 002); and a vaccine
candidate for Melioidosis (POLB 003). The Company is also
developing an oral vaccine delivery platform and is progressing two
artificial intelligence (AI) programmes to accelerate the power of
its human challenge model data and biobank, with results from the
first programme expected by year end 2022.
For more information, please go to www.poolbegpharma.com or
follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn @PoolbegPharma.
About University College Dublin
UCD is Ireland's largest and most diverse university and one of
Europe's leading research-intensive universities. Since 1854 UCD
has made a unique contribution to the creation of modern Ireland,
based on successful engagement with Irish society on every level
and across every sphere of activity. As Ireland's leading
university in innovation, knowledge transfer and commercialisation,
UCD's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship recognises the
importance of active participation and collaboration to exploit
leading-edge research and development outputs. As set-out in Rising
to the Future 2020-2024 UCD's four strategic theme are; creating a
sustainable global society, transforming through digital
technology, building a healthy world, and empowering humanity.
For further information, visit www.ucd.ie
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