TIDMPOLB
RNS Number : 5919F
Poolbeg Pharma PLC
08 November 2022
Poolbeg Pharma Plc
Artificial intelligence programme yields multiple novel RSV drug
targets
First time AI has been used to identify disease targets in
RSV
8 November 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 it has made a significant breakthrough in its
Artificial Intelligence ('AI') Programme with partner OneThree
Biotech , Inc. through the discovery of novel drug targets for the
treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus ('RSV').
Following the completion of the build and optimisation of a
tailored AI model in June 2022 , the OneThree team, using its
clinically validated AI platform, have identified novel drug
targets using Poolbeg's unique RSV human challenge trial data. The
identification of these novel drug targets now allows the final
stage of the programme to commence which will involve the
identification of small molecule inhibitors to effectively treat
RSV infections. The team are particularly excited as these include
a range of targets for which there are known drugs with existing
Phase I safety and tolerability data. Prioritisation of compounds
with existing Phase I data aligns with Poolbeg's capital light
model as these compounds will have extensive nonclinical and
clinical data allowing smooth transition to early human efficacy
trials.
The final stage of the research plan will utilise OneThree's
proprietary ATLANTIS AI platform to identify the drugs that are
most likely to be efficacious against the identified disease
targets with clean safety profiles in RSV patients. Selection of
drugs is traditionally a long and extensive process, however, by
using an existing AI model this process can be completed in weeks.
Results of this stage are expected before year end 2022.
Traditional drug design is focused on identifying a molecule
that can bind with a specific target within a cell. Poolbeg's
approach, utilising OneThree Biotech's advanced AI models, allows
for the complex disease signature underlying each drug target to be
considered during drug selection. This allows the complex outputs
of this stage, which represent novel biological insights, to be
advanced to the final stage which will match drugs to prioritised
targets. By working from disease signatures like this, OneThree
Biotech can utilise the full strength of its AI technology to
pinpoint the drug molecules that can precisely and effectively
reverse disease signatures and produce meaningful clinical
benefits.
Jeremy Skillington, PhD, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma, said:
" This is the first time that AI has been used to identify
disease targets in RSV and I am delighted to have reached this
significant milestone in the programme in such a short period of
time. Having identified these novel disease targets, we can now
commence the final stage of the programme to identify effective
drug candidates to treat RSV. In keeping with our capital-light
model, this AI enabled in silico R&D approach has significantly
accelerated the discovery process by having the right partners and
the right expertise to unleash the potential of our unique human
challenge trial data. We greatly look forward to seeing the outputs
of this programme later this year."
Neel S. Madhukar, PhD, CEO of OneThree Biotech said:
"This analysis is pioneering in RSV research, and we are pleased
to have identified disease targets from which effective drug
candidates can be explored. We are fortunate to have access to
Poolbeg's unique human challenge trial data because it was
collected in a controlled and powered quarantine which increases
the overall strength and predictive power you can get from it.
Additionally, thanks to the combination of Poolbeg's data and our
ATLANTIS platform, we were able to reach this point in our project
in only eight months - significantly faster than a traditional drug
discovery project - and we're excited to make meaningful progress
in the treatment of infectious diseases, such as RSV."
- Ends -
Enquiries
Poolbeg Pharma Plc
Jeremy Skillington, CEO
Ian O'Connell, CFO +44 (0) 207 183 1499
finnCap Ltd (Nominated Adviser & Joint
Broker)
Geoff Nash, Charlie Beeson
Nigel Birks, Harriet Ward (ECM) +44 (0) 207 220 0500
Singer Capital Markets (Joint Broker)
Phil Davies, Sam Butcher +44 (0) 207 496 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, Tim poolbeg@instinctif.com
Field
About RSV
RSV is a contagious virus that affects people's respiratory
tract with children and at-risk older adults being particularly
vulnerable; in severe cases, it can cause pneumonia and other
life-threatening breathing difficulties. RSV is a significant
public health threat affecting an estimated 50 million people
annually, leading to 4 million global hospitalisations and an
estimated 100,000 deaths in children under the age of 5 years. An
estimated 45% of these cases and deaths occur in new-born infants
under the age of 6 months. Studies have suggested that treatment
for RSV in children under five alone costs governments globally
EUR4.8bn every year.
About Poolbeg's AI Programmes
Poolbeg Pharma has access to a unique private repository of
clinical samples and associated data from human challenge trials
via its relationship with Open Orphan plc, a resource which is
anticipated to expand over the coming years. Human challenge trial
data is unique in the depth of longitudinal virology, health,
biomarker and symptom data collected during the course of disease.
These datasets provide clinical insights into disease that guides
Poolbeg Pharma's product acquisitions and clinical development.
The Company is currently progressing two AI Programmes, the
first in RSV in partnership with OneThree Biotech , and the second
in influenza in partnership with CytoReason . Poolbeg believe that
this is the first time that AI analysis has been undertaken on RSV
and influenza human challenge trial data and samples to identify
new drug targets and treatments. The unique nature of human
challenge trials to produce disease progression data with high
precision is revolutionising the insights into human disease.
Poolbeg's asset POLB 001, which has commenced its LPS human
challenge trial with initial trial data expected before year end,
was identified using such disease progression data. However, by
utilising AI, the Company aims to identify more targets quicker and
more cost efficiently than previously possible without this
technology.
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 hVIVO plc (formerly named 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 OneThree Biotech
OneThree Biotech is a private, clinically validated,
biology-driven artificial intelligence (AI) company focused on
using its proprietary ATLANTIS AI platform in combination with
systems biology to understand the mechanisms that drive
drug-target-disease relationships. This approach has been used not
only to generate a pipeline of first-in-class programs, but also in
partnerships with other biopharmaceutical companies. OneThree
Biotech's proven technology platform integrates chemical,
biological, and clinical data with cutting-edge computational tools
to answer complex questions surrounding disease biology and drug
discovery. The company's AI platform has shown success in
identifying new targets for the treatment of various cancers and
optimizing early-stage drug discovery and development by quickly
and accurately generating new, testable insights and hypotheses.
The OneThree platform has been validated across early-stage drug
discovery through multiple partnerships, clinical trials, and more
than 20 peer-reviewed publications. OneThree Biotech is based in
New York City.
Twitter: @onethreebiotech
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