Influenza AI model build completed

Poolbeg Pharma

29/11/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 8502H  Poolbeg Pharma PLC  29 November 2022

Poolbeg Pharma plc

 

Influenza Artificial Intelligence model build completed

CytoReason analysis of human challenge trial data on track to deliver outputs
in Q2 2023

 

29 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, further to its announcement in March
(https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/poolbeg_pharma/news/rns/story/ry9nd7x)
2022, the construction of the computational artificial intelligence (AI)
influenza disease model has been completed by CytoReason Limited
('CytoReason'), indicating that it is on track to deliver outputs in Q2 2023.

 

The model aims to unlock clinically meaningful insights into influenza
infection and recovery through the analysis of Poolbeg's unique human
challenge trial data. CytoReason has now built a tailored AI model using
Poolbeg's data which will allow the team to identify novel influenza drug
targets for Poolbeg.

 

CytoReason's technologies are externally validated through its commercial
partnerships with five of the world's top ten global pharma companies
accessing its world-leading AI models, including Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi.
CytoReason's application of Poolbeg's unique human challenge trial data to
build and train its first AI model in infectious diseases further testifies to
the value of this data.

 

CytoReason's world leading algorithms and experts will enable the Poolbeg team
to identify the most promising drug targets to treat disease. The Company
plans to source drugs with existing Phase I safety data that, in line with the
Poolbeg business model, can immediately continue clinical development to
rapidly generate early human proof of concept data for influenza, with the
ultimate aim of monetising the asset through partnerships and licensing deals
with pharma and biotech.

 

Jeremy Skillington, PhD, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma, said:

"CytoReason builds world-class AI disease models and we look forward with
great anticipation to the outputs from their analysis of our unique repository
of clinical samples and associated data from influenza human challenge trials.
Indeed this is the first time that AI is being used to analyse influenza human
challenge trial data which Poolbeg is proud to be part of."

 

"Completion of this first stage of development demonstrates yet another
milestone reached in the Company's stated R&D strategy and brings us one
step closer to realising the significant opportunities that arise from this
partnership. There is a growing focus on AI discovered drug targets within the
industry and we are assessing interest in collaboration opportunities for our
AI-enabled novel targets which we expect in Q2 2023 from this programme."

 

David Harel, CEO of CytoReason, said:

"Now that our influenza disease model has been enriched by Poolbeg's
unparalleled data, we are excited to evaluate the novel disease mechanisms on
our platform. This will potentially identify drug targets that can be used to
develop treatments for influenza, a significant global health threat, in a
much shorter time-frame and more cost effectively than with traditional
reductionist analysis and drug discovery techniques."

 

-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, Adam Loudon     poolbeg@instinctif.com (mailto:poolbeg@instinctif.com)

 

 

Further detail on Poolbeg's Artificial Intelligence Programmes

Poolbeg Pharma has access to a unique private repository of clinical samples
and associated data from human challenge trials via its relationship with
hVIVO plc (formerly Open Orphan plc), a resource which is anticipated to
expand over the coming years. Data from human challenge trials are unique in
that they track a healthy subject through disease to recovery in carefully
controlled and monitored isolation units, collecting samples throughout the
course of disease, and vitally collecting matched baseline and follow-up
samples before and after infection. This 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.

 

CytoReason's machine learning algorithm works by combing through enormous
repositories of clinical data to build models of human disease, which can then
be used by biotech and pharmaceutical partners to identify novel targets,
prioritise mono/combination therapies, find biomarkers, and understand which
patients will benefit most from those new treatments. CytoReason will be
analysing blood transcriptomics, proteomics, DNA sequences and viral loads and
disease signs and symptoms from the human challenge trials. The aim is for
CytoReason to prioritise new drug targets quickly and cost effectively, in a
manner consistent with Poolbeg's business model.

 

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.

 

About Influenza

Influenza is a viral pathogen that infects approximately one-eighth of the
world's population each year, an estimated 1 billion people infected globally,
attacking the respiratory system leading to between 5 and 10 million
hospitalisations and as many as 500,000 influenza related deaths. Survivors of
influenza can suffer organ damage, leading to chronic and life-changing
injuries. Health organisations have warned that the upcoming influenza season
could be especially severe, as a consequence of low immunity to the virus due
to the pandemic causing a break in exposure.

 

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 CytoReason

 

CytoReason is a leading technology company developing computational disease
models. The company collects proprietary data from pharmaceutical companies
and uses it to simulate human diseases - tissue by tissue and cell by cell.
With CytoReason's massive database and AI-led platform, pharma and biotech
companies can identify new opportunities, shorten trial phases, reduce
development costs, and increase the likelihood of drug approval. To date, five
of the world's top ten pharma companies use CytoReason's technology. For more
information, visit www.cytoreason.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

 

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