London Stock Exchange welcomes Poolbeg Pharma (‘POLB’) a clinical-stage, infectious disease pharmaceutical company with a novel capital light clinical model to rival the conventional biotech model, as it lists on AIM.

Poolbeg Pharma has raised £25 million and lists with a market capitalisation of £50 million with Schroder Investment Management and other institutions under the disclosable amount taking part in the fundraise. Cathal Friel, Poolbeg Pharma Chairman, also took part in the placing investing £500k signifying the commitment and belief that management have in the business model. The Company is targeting the growing infectious disease market, which in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has become one of the fastest growing and exciting markets with expected market value of $250bn by 2025.  

Poolbeg Pharma’s capital light clinical model aims to develop multiple products faster and more cost effectively than the conventional biotech model. The Company has aspirations to become a “one-stop shop” for Big Pharma seeking mid-stage products to license or acquire.

With its initial assets from Open Orphan plc, an industry leading infectious disease and human challenge trials business, Poolbeg Pharma is headquartered in London. The Company is led by a team with a track record of delivery and creating value for shareholders and has access to one of the largest infectious disease progression data and bio banks i.e. Open Orphan's data and biobank, with the potential to interrogate the data with an AI data analysis platform (active and productive discussions underway) to accelerate the identification of drug targets / products. 

Poolbeg already has a Phase II ready repositioned small molecule immunomodulator for severe influenza and a portfolio of other exciting assets. The Company plans to broaden this portfolio further rapidly post IPO and has already generated an exciting pipeline of potential acquisitions.

Jeremy Skillington, PhD, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma said: “The IPO and funds raised have provided a great platform to begin our rapid growth plan. With experienced management on board and the exciting assets acquired from Open Orphan, we look forward to delivering value to our shareholder base.”

“Our capital light model versus conventional biotech has been well received by investors and we intend to drive business development and product in-licensing and acquisition which will provide continued momentum for our shareholders in the aftermarket and beyond. Underlying the business is our aim to be patient-focused and customer-led and to use our extensive network to become a ‘one-stop shop’ for big pharma, developing and partnering the infectious disease assets that they need.”

Cathal Friel, Chairman of Poolbeg Pharma commented: "Poolbeg Pharma’s approach to asset development should result in monetisation opportunities and excellent returns in a relatively short period of time with substantially less risk than the conventional biotech model while also ensuring regular investor newsflow. At Poolbeg we have assembled a leading management team, generated an exciting pipeline of potential acquisitions and entered active and productive discussions with leading AI data analysis platforms and the IPO will allow Poolbeg to accelerate all of these activities to create shareholders value. 
Thus, I am confident and excited in the Company's prospects going forward and I am delighted to have invested £500,000 alongside incoming investors as part of the IPO.”

The Poolbeg Pharma Board of Directors consists of:

• Cathal Friel (Non-Executive Chairman)
• Jeremy Skillington (Chief Executive Officer)
• Ian O’Connell (Chief Financial Officer
• Patrick Ashe (Non-Executive Director)
• Edward Gibson (Non-Executive Director)
• Luke O’Neill (Non-Executive Director)

finnCapp acts as Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker to Poolbeg Pharma. Arden Partners and J&E Davy act as Joint Brokers.