J&J to join Poolbeg on key cancer drug trial

Jeremy Skillington, chief executive officer of Poolbeg Pharma. Johnson & Johnson is to join with Poolbeg Pharma on a key cancer drug trial in the UK.  

Johnson & Johnson is to join with Poolbeg Pharma on a key cancer drug trial in the UK.

Dublin-headquartered Poolbeg, co-founded by Cathal Friel, is taking part in an upcoming clinical trial which is being run out of The Christie in Manchester.

The POLB 001 trial will test Poolbeg’s drug which could prevent the severe side effects faced by patients receiving immunotherapy treatments. Such therapies are almost called wonder drugs because a very large percentage of late-stage cancer patients are having their cancer completely cured.

However, the treatments often trigger immune system responses called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). It means patients must attend specialist cancer centres for treatment with hospital stays lasting two to three weeks.

Poolbeg said it is optimistic that using its drug in the days prior to the cancer treatment could prevent CRS while not impacting the efficacy of the cancer drugs. If successful it should allow a greater number of patients to receive advanced cancer treatment.

In an update today, Poolbeg confirmed that pharma giant Johnson & Johnson will provide the approved multimillion bispecific antibody, teclistamab, free of charge for the trial, which is part of a wider programme called RISE.

Jeremy Skillington, chief executive officer of Poolbeg Pharma, said the trial will deepen the understanding of CRS and could be beneficial for POLB 001, "as we seek to bring its potential benefits to patients.

“Poolbeg is delighted to be working alongside The University of Manchester, The Christie, Johnson & Johnson and other leading partners, who are focused on finding a solution for CRS,” he said.

First results from the trial are anticipated in the summer of 2026. In the update, Poolbeg said participation in the trial will not impact the company’s cash runway into 2027.

Dr Jonathan Lim, clinical senior lecturer and honorary consultant medical oncologist in advanced immunotherapy and cell therapy at the Christie said “RISE harnesses Manchester’s multidisciplinary strengths to explore the biology behind both the power and the risks of modern cancer immunotherapies. Supported by the MRC Prosperity Partnership, this initiative exemplifies how academic–industry collaboration can accelerate discovery and ensure these therapies are delivered safely and responsibly.”