AI programme yields novel RSV drug targets

Poolbeg Pharma

08/11/2022 07:00

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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 (http://www.poolbegpharma.com/) (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 (https://onethree.bio/) , 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
(https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/poolbeg_pharma/news/rns/story/w9ev0er)
, 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                                  +44 (0) 207 183 1499

 Jeremy Skillington, CEO

 Ian O'Connell, CFO

 finnCap Ltd (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker)      +44 (0) 207 220 0500

 Geoff Nash, Charlie Beeson

Nigel Birks, Harriet Ward (ECM)

 Singer Capital Markets (Joint Broker)               +44 (0) 207 496 3000

 Phil Davies, Sam Butcher

 J&E Davy (Joint Broker)                             +353 (0) 1 679 6363

 Anthony Farrell, Niall Gilchrist

 Instinctif Partners                                 +44 (0) 20 7457 2020

 Melanie Toyne Sewell, Rozi Morris, Tim Field        poolbeg@instinctif.com

 

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 €4.8bn 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 (https://onethree.bio/) , and the second in
influenza in partnership with CytoReason (https://www.cytoreason.com/) .
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 (http://www.hvivo.com) (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
(http://www.poolbegpharma.com) or follow us on Twitter
(https://twitter.com/PoolbegPharma) and LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/poolbeg-pharma/) @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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