Poolbeg Pharma PLC Announces Project update for AI model of RSV data

Rhea-AI Summary

Poolbeg Pharma announces the successful completion of the AI model for analyzing Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) data, a first in utilizing AI with complete longitudinal data. This collaboration with OneThree Biotech aims to identify novel drug targets and potential treatments more efficiently. The results of the analysis are expected in Q4 2022. This AI model will leverage unique data derived from human challenge trials, contributing to Poolbeg's goal of addressing the significant public health threat posed by RSV, which results in an estimated 100,000 deaths in children under five annually.

Positive

• Completion of AI model for RSV data analysis enabling identification of new drug targets.
• First use of AI with complete longitudinal RSV data derived from human challenge trials.
• Potential for quicker and cost-efficient drug identification and development process.
• Model validated with comprehensive clinical, molecular, and virological data.

Negative

• None.

OneThree Biotech completes build and optimisation of AI model for RSV data - results to come in H2

First time AI used to model RSV with complete longitudinal disease data

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 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, further to its announcement in February 2022, Artificial Intelligence ('AI') partner OneThree Biotech, Inc., has completed the build and optimisation of a tailored AI model of Poolbeg's Respiratory Syncytial Virus ('RSV') human challenge data and can now commence its analysis, with results expected in Q4 2022.

Key Highlights:

•	Build and optimisation phase of AI model to identify RSV drug targets and treatments completed - results expected in Q4 2022
•	Model is uniquely tailored to use Poolbeg's human challenge trial data of RSV
•	The Directors believe this is the first time that AI analysis has been used to identify new drug targets and treatments for RSV using human challenge trial data
•	Process will identify novel drug targets and treatments quicker and in a more cost-efficient manner than previously possible

The tailored AI model is the platform from which OneThree Biotech and Poolbeg will mine truly unique insights from human challenge trial* derived disease progression data, with the aim of identifying novel drug targets and therapies to treat RSV, a disease which is a significant public health threat.

OneThree's clinically validated model has been optimised to harness the unique longitudinal clinical, molecular (e.g. gene and protein expression) and virological data collected during human challenge trials, and includes next generation sequencing data captured daily at all timepoints before, during and after a healthy volunteer has been infected with RSV. The controlled environment of the human challenge trial creates a uniquely clean and complete dataset which is ideally suited for AI disease modelling such as this. The research team have integrated OneThree Biotech's world class AI, with Poolbeg's dataset and publicly available datasets to optimise the power of the model and validate its results. The team will use the model to discover and identify the disease signatures that define RSV infection and then identify drugs that can effectively reverse those signatures with therapeutically meaningful benefits with a view to then adding such identified drugs to Poolbeg's pipeline.

The research program will prioritise identifying drug candidates with existing Phase I safety and tolerability data generated during prior development for other disease indications. This approach significantly reduces spend and risk, with the resultant clinical development program rapidly progressing to a capital light clinical proof of concept trial. The approach is expected to generate multiple clinical stage candidates quickly and cost-effectively, in a manner consistent with Poolbeg's model.

Poolbeg also has an AI partnership underway with CytoReason which is focused on drug target identification for influenza infections. This is currently in the modelling stage and further updates will be provided in due course.

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

"OneThree Biotech's AI model optimisation has been completed on time and is on-track to deliver results later this year. This is the first time that AI has been used to model RSV with the complete longitudinal disease data which can only be produced from human challenge trials. We are excited to see the insights into RSV that can be generated from this analysis which will help us to identify the best potential drug candidates to develop as part of our rapid, capital-light portfolio. RSV is a disease with a significant unmet medical need which causes an estimated 100,000 deaths per year in children under the age of five, we hope that the results from this programme can help us to identify an effective treatment to address this significant public health threat."

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 under 5s costs governments globally €4.8bn every year.

*Footnote: During a human challenge study, a number of healthy volunteers are exposed to an infectious agent in a safe and controlled quarantine setting to assess the efficacy of vaccines or treatments. Human challenge trial data is unique in the depth of longitudinal virology, health, biomarker and symptom data collected during the course of disease from pre-infection, onset, progression and resolution of an infection.

- 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, James Thompson, Charlie Beeson Richard Chambers, Sunila de Silva (ECM), Nigel Birks	+44 (0) 207 220 0500
Arden Partners PLC (Joint Broker) John Llewellyn-Lloyd, Louisa Waddell	+44 (0) 207 614 5900
J&E Davy (Joint Broker) Anthony Farrell, Niall Gilchrist	+353 (0) 1 679 6363
Instinctif Partners Melanie Toyne Sewell, Rozi Morris, Tim Field	+44 (0) 20 7457 2020 poolbeg@instinctif.com

About Poolbeg Pharma

Poolbeg Pharma is a clinical stage infectious disease pharmaceutical company, with a 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 Big Pharma 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 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); a first-in-class, intranasally administered RNA-based immunotherapy for respiratory virus infections (POLB 002); and a vaccine for Melioidosis (POLB 003). The Company is also developing an oral vaccine delivery platform and is progressing two artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery programmes to accelerate the power of its human challenge model data and biobank.

For more information, please go to www.poolbegpharma.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn @PoolbegPharma.

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SOURCE: Poolbeg Pharma PLC

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FAQ

What significant AI development did Poolbeg Pharma announce on June 27, 2022?

Poolbeg Pharma announced the completion of an AI model specifically designed for analyzing RSV human challenge data.

When are the results from the AI model analysis for RSV expected?

The results from the AI model analysis for RSV are expected in Q4 2022.

What is the significance of the AI model created by Poolbeg Pharma?

The AI model is significant as it is the first to analyze RSV using complete longitudinal data from human challenge trials, enabling the identification of new drug targets.

How does Poolbeg Pharma's approach to RSV impact drug development costs?

Poolbeg Pharma's AI model aims to identify drug candidates faster and at a lower cost compared to traditional methods.

What public health issue does Poolbeg Pharma aim to address with its RSV research?

Poolbeg Pharma aims to address the public health threat posed by RSV, which causes approximately 100,000 deaths annually in children under five.