Poolbeg Pharma plc

Decision to grant European Patent received for POLB 001 in cancer immunotherapy-induced CRS

Major milestone will provide IP protection in key European markets, strengthening global patent portfolio

16 June 2026 - Poolbeg Pharma (AIM: POLB, 'Poolbeg' or the 'Company'), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a core focus on transforming the cancer immunotherapy field, announces that it has received formal notification of the decision to grant for its POLB 001 cancer immunotherapy-induced Cytokine Release Syndrome ("CRS") patent application from the European Patent Office ("EPO").

This represents a significant milestone for the Company's global intellectual property strategy. The European patent, which provides protection across EPO member states, is the most commercially significant grant to date within Poolbeg's cancer immunotherapy-induced CRS patent family, covering one of the world's largest and most important pharmaceutical markets. This follows the grant of the first patent in this family by IP Australia in March 2026, followed by patent grant in Canada in May 2026 and further reinforces the Company's commitment to building a robust, worldwide IP portfolio.

The patent covers the use of p38 MAPK inhibitors, including POLB 001, for the prevention of cancer immunotherapy-induced CRS, supported by proprietary data generated by the Company. The grant materially strengthens Poolbeg's competitive position as it advances POLB 001 through the clinic. With the TOPICAL trial on track to deliver interim data later this summer, the Company believes this milestone significantly enhances POLB 001's attractiveness to potential partners and its long-term value proposition. The Company looks forward to providing further updates to the market regarding the extension of coverage in other jurisdictions in due course.

Jeremy Skillington, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Poolbeg Pharma, said: "This decision to grant the European patent further strengthens our IP protection for POLB 001 in cancer immunotherapy-induced CRS. Europe represents one of the most strategically important pharmaceutical markets and this grant increases the commercial value of POLB 001 to potential partners at a critical stage in the programme's development. With interim data from our TOPICAL trial expected this summer and our IP portfolio further bolstered, I am excited by what is to come over the months ahead for Poolbeg."

*TOPICAL: Trial of Prevention of ImmunoCytokine Adverse events in Myeloma. A single-arm, open-label trial investigating POLB 001 as a potential preventative for CRS in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients receiving the approved bispecific antibody, teclistamab, provided by Johnson and Johnson at no cost to Poolbeg.

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About Poolbeg Pharma plc 

Poolbeg Pharma plc (AIM: POLB) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a core focus on transforming the cancer immunotherapy field. The Company's lead asset, POLB 001, has the potential to expand administration of cancer immunotherapies from centralised specialist cancer centres into community hospitals by making the treatments safer through the prevention of the life-threatening side effect, Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). As such, POLB 001 could increase the number of patients that can receive these life-saving treatments, thereby increasing the market opportunity. Poolbeg is also advancing the development of a patient-friendly therapy for obesity with an oral encapsulated GLP-1, offering a differentiated approach within one of the world's largest markets. With multiple near-term clinical value inflection points, and an experienced team with a proven track record, Poolbeg is focussed on partnering its high value programmes that are targeting large markets and addressing critical unmet medical needs. 

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This announcement may contain forward-looking statements and the words "expect", "anticipate", "intends", "plan", "estimate", "aim", "forecast", "project" and similar expressions (or their negative) identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this announcement are based on numerous assumptions and Poolbeg's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Poolbeg expects to operate in the future. Forward-looking statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond Poolbeg's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants, the outcome of clinical trials, the actions of regulators and other factors such as Poolbeg's ability to obtain financing, changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which Poolbeg operates or in economic, technological or consumer trends or conditions. Past performance should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of future results, and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding future performance. No person is under any obligation to update or keep current the information contained in this announcement or to provide the recipient of it with access to any additional relevant information.