Poolbeg takes centre stage in CRS research

Poolbeg Pharma’s POLB‑001 trial aims to prevent cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in bispecific antibody and CAR‑T therapies, making cancer immunotherapy safer and more accessible. The POLB‑001 trial will form part of the new RISE programme, led by the University of Manchester and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, and supported by the £3.4m Prosperity Partnership grant. The initiative seeks to explore how CRS develops and whether it can be blocked before it occurs. Poolbeg acts as lead industry partner alongside Johnson & Johnson, which will supply the bispecific antibody teclistamab (BCMA × CD3). First results from the trial are still expected in summer 2026.

At the heart of the Phase‑IIa TOPICAL study is POLB 001, a p38‑MAP‑kinase inhibitor intended to prevent CRS — a step aimed at making therapies with bispecific antibodies and CAR‑T cells safer and with fewer side‑effects. Given that CRS occurs in roughly 50–90 % of patients receiving such treatments, its risk — along with the high cost — has so far limited their widespread use. The RISE programme also plans to collect clinical data from patients receiving these immunotherapies to evaluate whether POLB 001 can reduce CRS beyond the ongoing trial.

Poolbeg CEO Jeremy Skillington and Dr Jonathan Lim, leading the academic side, emphasise that RISE aims to build a robust scientific foundation to improve the safety of cancer immunotherapies. For the MRC, the project represents a significant contribution to managing toxicities in advanced cell‑ and antibody‑based therapies and potentially broadening patient access.