Luke O’Neill joins Open Orphan spin-off ahead of pharma firm’s IPO

Ambitions are high for Poolbeg Pharma, which will develop drugs to fight infectious diseases

Professor Luke O’Neill, the immunologist, is a non-executive director of Poolbeg Pharma and a member of the company’s scientific advisory board. Picture: Barry Cronin

Luke O’Neill, the well-known immunologist, has joined the board of the fledgling Poolbeg Pharma which is preparing for a stock market launch in coming weeks.

Poolbeg Pharma is a newly launched spin-off of Open Orphan, the life sciences business co-founded by veteran financier Cathal Friel, and will specialise in developing drugs to treat infectious diseases.

O’Neill is a non-executive director and a member of the company’s scientific advisory board.

“Infectious disease products have now become ...