Poolbeg Pharma PlcLSE: POLB

Termination of proposed combination with HOOKIPA

· Issued by Poolbeg Pharma Plc

21 February 2025

Poolbeg Pharma plc

Termination of proposed combination with HOOKIPA Pharma Inc.

Further to the 2.4 announcement on 2 January 2025 on the potential combination of Poolbeg Pharma ("Poolbeg" or the "Company") and HOOKIPA Pharma Inc ("HOOKIPA"), the Board of Poolbeg announces that it was informed yesterday that HOOKIPA has terminated discussions on the proposed combination of the two companies.

Cathal Friel, Executive Chairman of Poolbeg, said: "We were surprised and disappointed to hear of HOOKIPA's decision to withdraw from the combination discussions. Throughout this process, we have seen strong interest in the potential of POLB 001 and we continue to be focused on maximising the potential of our in-house programmes and exploring new opportunities to generate value for our shareholders."

ENDS

Enquiries:

Poolbeg Pharma Plc

+44 (0) 207 183 1499

Cathal Friel, Chairman

ir@Poolbegpharma.com

Jeremy Skillington, CEO

Ian O'Connell, CFO

Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd 

(Joint Financial Adviser and Rule 3 Adviser to Poolbeg, NOMAD & Joint Broker)

+44 (0) 207 220 0500

Corporate Finance

Geoff Nash

Henrik Persson

Hamish Waller

Trisyia Jamaludin  

​

Shore Capital

(Joint Broker)

+44 (0) 207 408 4090

Corporate Advisory

David Coaten

Harry Davies-Ball

Corporate Broking

Malachy McEntyre

Isobel Jones


J&E Davy 

(Joint Broker)

+353 (0) 1 679 6363

Anthony Farrell

Niall Gilchrist

​

Optimum Strategic Communications

+44 (0) 208 078 4357

Nick Bastin

Poolbeg@optimumcomms.com

Vici Rabbetts

Elena Bates

About Poolbeg Pharma plc 

Poolbeg Pharma plc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focussed on acquiring, developing and commercialising innovative medicines that will help improve the lives of patients with rare and orphan diseases and where there is a high unmet medical need. Poolbeg comprises a strong and growing portfolio of development assets. For more information, please go to www.poolbegpharma.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn @PoolbegPharma.

Forward-Looking Statements

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.