London startup to trial drug to prevent cancer therapy side-effect ‘cytokine storm’ (opens original article in a new tab)

A London startup is trialing a drug to prevent a life-threatening side effect of cancer immunotherapy called cytokine storm, potentially reducing NHS costs and enabling treatment in community hospitals.

• London startup Poolbeg Pharma to trial drug POLB 001 at six NHS hospitals to prevent cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in cancer immunotherapy patients.
• Drug could allow treatment in community hospitals instead of specialist centers, reducing costs and increasing accessibility.
• Trial involves 30 patients receiving Johnson & Johnson's teclistamab, with interim results expected by summer.