Poolbeg Pharma in MRC-backed cancer immunotherapy study

Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTC:POLBF) CEO Jeremy Skillington and Principal Scientist Liam Tremble talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s involvement in the RISE research programme focused on cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in cancer immunotherapy. The University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust research programme titled RISE —short for Reducing Immune Stress from Excessive cytokine release from advanced therapies—is led by Dr Jonathan Lim and has received a £3.4 million grant from the UK’s Medical Research Council. Skillington explained that Poolbeg Pharma will act as the lead business partner alongside Johnson & Johnson, and other partners. Poolbeg's previously announced upcoming TOPICAL trial examining its lead candidate POLB 001 will play a central role in the programme. Importantly, Johnson & Johnson will provide the approved bispecific antibody, teclistamab, for that trial. “We’re very proud that POLB 001 has actually played a really key part to this,” Skillington said. Tremble noted the growing clinical challenge posed by CRS in advanced immunotherapies and how POLB 001 may offer a solution. “This really puts POLB 001 in a centrepoint position in cytokine release syndrome as a potential solution,” he said. The company confirmed the initiative will not impact its cash runway into 2027, nor will it impact delivery of the TOPICAL trial, with interim data expected in summer 2026. Visit Proactive’s YouTube channel for more interviews and updates. Don’t forget to like this video, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay informed. #PoolbegPharma #POLB001 #CancerImmunotherapy #CRS #CytokineReleaseSyndrome #UKLifeSciences #BiotechNews #MedicalResearch #MRCGrant #ClinicalTrials #ImmunotherapySafety