London startup to trial drug to prevent cancer therapy side-effect ‘cytokine storm’

Poolbeg Pharma to test the treatment in NHS hospitals and says it is also developing a GLP-1 weight loss pill

A London-based startup is about to trial a drug at six NHS hospitals that could stop people on cancer immunotherapy getting a life-threatening side-effect.

Poolbeg Pharma said its oral drug POLB 001 could make treatment for blood cancer safer by preventing cytokine release syndrome (CRS), when the immune system goes into overdrive and attacks the body, leading to organ damage.