Cathal Friel & Jeremy Skillington of Poolbeg Pharma discuss the significant progress since IPO & growing pipeline

Episode 586,   Mar 03, 2022, 07:29 AM

Cathal Friel, Chairman & Jeremy Skillington CEO of Poolbeg Pharma #POLB discuss the significant progress since IPO & growing pipeline by targeting the growing infectious disease market which is becoming one of the fastest growing markets with an expected value of c. $250 billion by 2025.

Cathal Friel, Chairman & Jeremy Skillington CEO of Poolbeg Pharma #POLB discuss the significant progress since IPO & growing pipeline by targeting the growing infectious disease market which is becoming one of the fastest growing markets with an expected value of c. $250 billion by 2025.

Operational Highlights since IPO - significant strategic and operational progress

- POLB 001, a treatment for severe Influenza, remains on track to commence its bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) human challenge trial in June 2022. Human data is expected before year end, at which point the Company aims to monetise by partnering or out licensing the product to pharma / biotech

- Continued expansion and diversification of the portfolio, reducing risk due to having multiple shots on goal;

o POLB 002 - in-licensed first-in-class, intranasally administered, RNA-based immunotherapy for respiratory virus infections

o Option to licence and evaluate an intramuscular vaccine to prevent Melioidosis (POLB 003), a disease predominately found in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and five additional bacterial vaccine candidates

o Oral Vaccine Delivery Platform - licensed access to use micro- and nanoencapsulation technology to develop oral vaccines for multiple disease indications

- In February 2022 the Company signed its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) deal with OneThree Biotech Inc. to identify new treatments for Respiratory Syncytial Virus ('RSV') through analysis of Poolbeg's unique human challenge trial data and OneThree's clinically validated biology driven platform

Financial & Corporate Highlights

- Well capitalised with a strong cash balance of £20.9m at period end, following the IPO fundraise of £23.2m (after expenses)

- Loss for the period amounted to £2.3m including the initial non-recurring costs of establishing the Group

- The Company has significant financial resources and will maintain its capital light approach to support its pipeline expansion and development

- Scientific Advisory Board strengthened with the appointment of Professor Daniel Hoft joining Professor Luke O'Neill and Dr Elaine Sullivan

2022 Pipeline

- Intention to dual-list on the OTC market in the US in Q2 2022 to provide additional liquidity in the stock

- Evaluating opportunities for non-dilutive grant funding to support the further development of existing pipeline

- Upon receipt of human data from POLB 001 study in H2 2022, the Company will look to commence monetisation to pharma and biotech companies via licensing or partnership agreements

- Generation of value through advancement of portfolio assets POLB 002, POLB 003, and Oral Vaccine Delivery Platform

- Preliminary outputs from the RSV Artificial Intelligence Discovery Programme are expected in H2 2022

- Continuous engagement and discussion with pharma and biotech companies around the Company's portfolio including out-licensing and product rights deals

- Continue to identify and conduct diligence on numerous new innovative infectious disease products to add to the pipeline, leveraging the expertise and network of our management team and scientific advisory board. In addition, we continue to evaluate further AI partnerships

- Continue to position the Company firmly at the cutting edge of global R&D as the infectious disease market grows to c. $250bn by 2025