Clinical R&D

‘THE ART OF MS – SYMPTOMS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT’ EXHIBITION

‘The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight’ is an art exhibition created by MS Ireland in partnership with Novartis Ireland and opened recently featuring 12 original works of art created by people living with MS in Ireland. The exhibition has been organised to raise awareness of MS and the wide-ranging symptoms of the disease to mark World MS Day 2022. The 12 works of art on display were shortlisted by a panel of judges and chosen for their ability to impactfully depict the many symptoms of MS, many of which are invisible and unknown to the general public such as fatigue, vision impairment, depression and difficulties with memory and thinking[i]. The exhibition will feature paintings, digital illustrations, freestanding sculptures and creative video content all of which aim to help the viewer better understand what it is like to live with MS day to day. Méabh Hennelly is a featured artist who lives with MS, aged 25. Her piece, entitled ‘Secret Central System’ is a 3D printed sculpture which is intact from the front and exposes the brain and spinal cord from the back, representing the hidden nature of MS.

Ava Battles, Chief Executive of MS Ireland said “One of the big challenges for people living with MS is trying to articulate their symptoms to others when so much of their disease is invisible. Without understanding, empathy is limited as people do not realise how debilitating the disease can be on all aspects of the person’s life. The beauty of our exhibition opening today is that people have been able to show through art what they find hard to articulate in words. I would encourage everyone to visit The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight exhibition and show your support for the 9,000 people in Ireland living with this disease.” Audrey Derveloy, General Manager and Country President, Novartis Ireland speaking about the opening of The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight said, “At Novartis Ireland we are committed to supporting the community of people living with MS in Ireland as they navigate both the management of their disease as well as day to day life living with the broad ranging symptoms. We hope that The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight will help the wider community to better understand and proactively manage their disease and I would like to personally thank all the artists who have exhibited their work to mark World MS Day.” The Art of MS – Symptoms under the Spotlight is accessible to the public from Thursday 26 May to Wednesday 1 June 2022 from 9am-5pm and is located at the main foyer of Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152 - 160 Pearse St, Dublin 2. Find more information about MS and to view the profiles of the artists who will feature at the exhibition at www.MS-Society.ie

HSE LAUNCHES COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK

The HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control team (AMRIC) has launched the Competency Framework for Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners in Ireland. This important framework was developed to support health care professionals pursuing specialist careers in infection prevention and control (IPC). It helps staff in identifying and gaining the specific competencies they will require as an IPC practitioner. Dr Eimear Brannigan, HSE Clinical Lead, Antimicrobial Resistance Infection Control (AMRIC) commented, “Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) is central to providing clean, safe and high quality health and social care for people who use those services. It also protects those who deliver the services and the wider community. All healthcare services must have basic IPC capacity within their core staff complement, and must also have access to higher-level expertise to support decision-making when necessary. This new document has been developed by the AMRIC nursing team to support health care professionals pursuing specialist careers in IPC. It will help in identifying and gaining the specific knowledge and skills they will require as IPC practitioners.” Rachel Kenna, Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health says, “I am delighted to support the launch of this new Competency Framework for Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners in Ireland. This is the first such framework on IPC for Ireland and it is an important step forward in advancing IPC practice. It will also assist with maintaining and improving expertise in IPC among health staff and promoting a high-quality and consistent approach to IPC practices. This Framework is significant for the delivery of Ireland’s second One Health National Action on Antimicrobial Resistance 20212025, iNAP2, by helping to prevent and control the spread of infection and demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to best practice in this area. Importantly, it builds on the learning and experience from the COVID-19 pandemic response, a time when IPC was so important for safe environments for patients receiving care and the staff that delivered such care. I would like to congratulate the HSE National AMRIC Team for their leadership in developing and making available this valuable resource for healthcare professionals and service providers.” The framework aims to support managers, in growing and developing a skilled infection prevention and control workforce by: • providing standardised core competencies required for IPC practitioners in Ireland

• assist in curriculum design of post graduate training courses for IPC in Ireland

• support healthcare organisations in growing and developing skilled and educated IPC workforce

• support self-assessment of competence by the IPC practitioner

• assist and complement staff appraisal and professional development plan processes.

This document will continue to support the growth and development of a skilled infection prevention and control workforce in Ireland.

Pictured at the launch of The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight are Ava Battles Chief Executive MS Ireland and Audrey Derveloy, General Manager, Novartis Ireland. Picture: Andres Poveda

TIZIANA LIFE SCIENCES ANNOUNCES POSITIVE CLINICAL RESULTS IN THE SECOND PATIENT WITH SECONDARY PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (SPMS)

Tiziana Life Sciences (Nasdaq: TLSA) ("Tiziana" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company enabling breakthrough immunotherapies via novel routes of drug administration, has reported positive clinical results from the second patient with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) in the ongoing study as part of an expanded access program at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Boston, MA. These results confirm the previously reported data, from the first SPMS patient after three

months of treatment of the first SPMS patient. The treatment with foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, was welltolerated and improved clinical and PET imaging analyses. The second patient, a young male in his 40s, was diagnosed with SPMS in 2014. Since then, the disease has been progressive, resulting in an accumulation of disability. Following completion of three months of treatment with intranasal foralumab (50 mcg; three times a week for two weeks, followed by one week off treatment), the patient showed improvement as measured by PET imaging, to assess inhibition of microglial activation, and by neurologic examination. Approximately 10-30% reduction in PET signal was seen across brain regions (including cortex, thalamus, white matter, and cerebellum) in the second SPMS patient, which is comparable to the PET changes seen in the first SPMS patient following three months of treatment with intranasal foralumab. Clinically, the Timed 25-Foot Walk test and neurologic exam were also improved. Both the first and the second patient are continuing with the treatment and are in their 13th and 4th months of treatment, respectively. Dr. Kunwar Shailubhai, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of Tiziana Life Sciences, commented, "We are excited about the positive clinical responses seen in 2 out of 2 SPMS patients treated so far. Clinical data from both patients further validate our novel intranasal therapy with foralumab, which seems to overcome the bloodbrain barrier to allow therapeutic action of the drug." The favorable safety, tolerability, and clinical responses from the first two SPMS patients were submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency has now allowed Tiziana to treat an additional eight SPMS patients. Although the original dosing regimen with intranasal therapy with foralumab will remain the same (50 mcg; three times a week for two weeks, followed by one week off treatment), the revised dosing regimen has a provision for dose escalation up to 100 mcg (MWF) as an option to improve clinical benefit. Dr. Howard Weiner, MD, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program at BWH and Chairman of Tiziana's Scientific Advisory Board, commented, "We are very pleased by both the biological and clinical improvement observed in the second patient after treatment with intranasal Foralumab for three months, which provides confirmation that the intranasal dosing modulates the systemic immune response and in turn dampens brain inflammation. It is encouraging to see the consistency of response between the first and second patient and that the treatment was well tolerated."

Tanuja Chitnis, MD, Principal Investigator and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and senior neurologist at BWH and Massachusetts General Hospital added, "Therapies to slow progression in multiple sclerosis are much needed as there are only a few options for non-active SPMS. I look forward to treating more patients under this same protocol." Tarun Singhal, MD, Director of PET Imaging Program in Neurologic Diseases, associate neurologist and nuclear medicine physician at BWH commented, “Our current analyses suggest a consistency of response to intranasal foralumab, across the first two SPMS patients. We were also able to harmonize data across scanners and institutions, which has yielded very encouraging results. We look forward to our continued investigations of foralumab in SPMS patients, using additional PET analytical approaches.”

About Foralumab

Foralumab (formerly NI-0401), the only entirely human anti-CD3 mAb, shows reduced release of cytokines after IV administration in healthy volunteers and in patients with Crohn's disease. In a humanized mouse model (NOD/ SCID IL2γc-/-), it was shown that while targeting the T-cell receptor, orally administered foralumab modulates immune responses of the T-cells and enhances regulatory T-cells (Tregs), thereby providing therapeutic benefit in treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases without the occurrence of potential adverse events usually associated with parenteral mAb therapy. Once a day treatment for 10 consecutive days with intranasal foralumab was not only well tolerated but it also produced strong clinical responses in COVID-19 patients. Based on these studies, the intranasal and oral administration of foralumab offers the potential to become a well-tolerated immunotherapy for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by the induction of Tregs.

ADVICE ON FMD ASPECTS OF SUPPLYING UTROGESTAN 100MG AND 200MG CAPSULES AS EXEMPT MEDICINAL PRODUCTS IN IRELAND

The Safety Features Oversight Group continues to oversee progress with implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) in Ireland. The Safety Features Oversight Group has been made aware of an issue regarding FMD alerts received when scanning four batches of French packs of Utrogestan products supplied as exempt medicinal products (EMPs) in Ireland.

• Utrogestan 200mg Capsules molle orale ou vaginale (Batch

Numbers 200261 and 202225) • Utrogestan 100mg Capsules molle orale ou vaginale (Batch

Numbers 214679 and 220486) If pharmacies scan and receive alerts for these four Utrogestan batches, they may supply the packs to patients under their existing procedures, unless they have overriding concerns that a falsified medicine is involved.

The alerts have been caused, in part, by decommissioning transactions that took place in another country, and there is no evidence that the products have been falsified.

If a pharmacist has reason to believe that the packaging has been interfered with, based on their examination of the antitamper device on the pack, they must report their concern to the HPRA (as a suspected quality defect via the usual reporting mechanisms) and not supply the pack.

INNOVATIVE NEW PROCEDURE AT GALWAY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Galway University Hospitals (GUH) is the first hospital in the country to introduce a new minimally invasive day case procedure to reduce blood pressure in patients. This means that patients arrive in the hospital in the morning, have the procedure and are able to return home the same day. Professor Faisal Sharif, Consultant Cardiologist at GUH said, “We are probably the only hospital anywhere carrying out this procedure as a day case. Certainly we are the only hospital in the world carrying out the procedure, which is called renal artery denervation, using a product manufactured by Medtronic here in Galway. “We are using renal artery denervation to help patients with high uncontrolled blood pressure or hypertension which is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, vascular disease and chronic kidney disease. “Approximately 35% of the adult population in Ireland have hypertension and around one third of these patients are taking medication but their blood pressure is still uncontrolled. If we are able to control blood pressure we are able to reduce the risk of debilitating side effects. Even a small reduction in blood pressure can lead to a significant reduction of the risk of stroke or heart attack.

“We have participated in a number of clinical trials for renal artery denervation here in GUH that have shown reduction in blood pressure. Based on these results, renal artery denervation is now being carried out as a day case procedure. This has huge benefits for the patients in terms of reduced disruption to their lives, recovery at home and we are not dependent on the availability of beds for an overnight stay which can be a challenge with the current demands on inpatient care. “At the moment we are carrying out one or two of these procedures every month to help patients control their blood pressure.

Consultant Cardiologist Professor Faisal Sharif who has introduced a day case procedure to address uncontrolled blood pressure at Galway University Hospitals, in the Cath Lab at the hospital

CANCER VACCINE BIOTECH CIMCURE RAISES ¤5 MILLION IN SEED ROUND INVESTMENT LED BY POSITRON VENTURES

CimCure, a biotech spin-off of Amsterdam UMC, focusing on the development of a novel vaccinebased cancer immunotherapy through its Immune-Boost (iBoost) technology, has announced that it has raised little over ¤5 million in a financing Seed Round led by Dutch VC Positron Ventures. The round was supported by several investors with deep industry knowledge, including the investment vehicle of Tom Würdinger, professor at Amsterdam UMC. With the proceeds of this Seed Round CimCure will further advance the vaccine up until phase 1-2 clinical studies in humans. Dutch vaccine CDMO Intravacc will be CimCure’s partner for the development and production of the lead compound. The vaccine-based immunotherapy developed by the team of Prof. Dr Griffioen at the Amsterdam UMC and licensed to CimCure, has shown high effectiveness and safety, both in murine animal models and in an efficacy study in client-owned dogs with spontaneous bladder cancer. Late May, some of the research results which underlie CimCure’s innovation were published in Nature Communications (Van Beijnum et al, 2022). CimCure was founded in 2016 as a spin-off of Amsterdam UMC supported by Amsterdam UMC’s TTO Innovation Exchange Amsterdam and is led by Prof. dr. Arjan Griffioen, CSO, and Diederik Engbersen, CEO. Both have extensive experience in the biotech industry and started CimCure to commercialise a smart, effective and safe treatment strategy against all types of solid tumors at all stages, and can be combined with conventional and state-of-the-art anti-cancer strategies. Joseph Peeraer, founding partner of Positron said, “We feel privileged to be able to invest in this promising iBoost technology and vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy, which might become a real game changer in the fight against cancer. This investment in CimCure exemplifies our thesis to invest at an early stage in outstanding scientists who would like to bring a potentially groundbreaking and impactful innovation to market. Professor Griffioen’s invention may lead to a much less demanding, cheaper and more effective cancer treatment.”

About CimCure’s vaccine-based immunotherapy

CimCure develops cancer vaccines through its proprietary Immune-Boost (iBoost) technology of targeted conjugate vaccines. The company has identified specific targets in the tumor vasculature. Eradication of tumor blood vessels and inhibition of their growth will lead to inhibition of cancer growth. This is an attractive approach for treatment of cancer. However, past and current angiostatic drugs are known for rapid induction of drug resistance and loss of effectiveness, due to intervention in tumor-produced growth factors or their receptors. CimCure’s approach directly targets the tumor blood vessels, which efficiently attenuates tumor growth directly and does not induce resistance. An additional advantage of targeting blood vessels is that the barrier function of the tumor vasculature for leukocytes can be overcome (Huinen et al, Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 2021).

INNOVATIVE NEW PROCEDURE AT GALWAY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Galway University Hospitals (GUH) is the first hospital in the country to introduce a new minimally invasive day case procedure to reduce blood pressure in patients. This means that patients arrive in the hospital in the morning, have the procedure and are able to return home the same day. Professor Faisal Sharif, Consultant Cardiologist at GUH said, “We are probably the only hospital anywhere carrying out this procedure as a day case. Certainly we are the only hospital in the world carrying out the procedure, which is called renal artery denervation, using a product manufactured by Medtronic here in Galway. “We are using renal artery denervation to help patients with high uncontrolled blood pressure or hypertension which is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, vascular disease and chronic kidney disease. “Approximately 35% of the adult population in Ireland have hypertension and around one third of these patients are taking medication but their blood pressure is still uncontrolled. If we are able to control blood pressure we are able to reduce the risk of debilitating side effects. Even a small reduction in blood pressure can lead to a significant reduction of the risk of stroke or heart attack.

“We have participated in a number of clinical trials for renal artery denervation here in GUH that have shown reduction in blood pressure. Based on these results, renal artery denervation is now being carried out as a day case procedure. This has huge benefits for the patients in terms of reduced disruption to their lives, recovery at home and we are not dependent on the availability of beds for an overnight stay which can be a challenge with the current demands on inpatient care. “At the moment we are carrying out one or two of these procedures every month to help patients control their blood pressure. Patients can contact our team directly to enquire about the procedure by calling Eileen Coen on 086 1455568. We then ask patients to wear a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours and we do other checks to make sure that they are suitable for the procedure. “The feedback from our patients who have had renal artery denervation has been incredibly positive with all benefitting from the procedure with improved blood pressure and better future health prospects.” DARZALEX®

(DARATUMUMAB) APPROVED FOR REIMBURSEMENT IN IRELAND IN COMBINATION WITH BORTEZOMIB, THALIDOMIDE AND DEXAMETHASONE (VTD) FOR PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED MULTIPLE MYELOMA WHO ARE TRANSPLANT ELIGIBLE

Janssen, the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, has announced Darzalex® (daratumumab) in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone (VTd) has been granted reimbursement in Ireland for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). The announcement follows EC approval of daratumumab based on results from Part one of the Phase 3 CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) study, published in The Lancet5 in June 2019 and presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting. Professor Philip Murphy, Consultant Haematologist, Beaumont Hospital said: “For Irish patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the importance of early intervention with effective first-line treatments to maximise response cannot be emphasised enough. Improvements in the standard of care to provide patients with valuable extra time are vital. Data from the CASSIOPEIA study demonstrates that the addition of daratumumab in combination with VTd can lead to deep remissions and prolong PFS.” Dr Thorsten Giesecke, General Manager, Commercial Business, Janssen Sciences Ireland UC, said: “Janssen is committed to providing access for patients to daratumumab in earlier disease stages of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that can have a devastating impact on the lives of those affected. Every year in Ireland about 350 people are diagnosed with this condition, and today’s reimbursement provides those who are newly diagnosed and transplant eligible, with a long-awaited additional frontline therapy.” The Phase 3 CASSIOPEIA trial is a two-part study. Results from this first part of the trial showed that after consolidation, the stringent complete response (sCR) rate was significantly higher in the daratumumab-VTd arm (29 percent) compared to VTd alone (20 percent) (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.60; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.212.12; P<0.0010).2 At a median follow-up of 18.8 months, PFS was significantly improved in the daratumumab-VTd group compared to VTd alone (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.47; 95 percent CI, 0.33-0.67; P<0.0001), and the median PFS was not reached in either arm. The addition of daratumumab to VTd resulted in an 18-month PFS rate of 93 percent compared to 85 percent for VTd alone.

The most common (≥10%) Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for daratumumabVTd and VTd, respectively, were neutropenia (28 percent vs. 15 percent), lymphopenia (17 percent vs. 10 percent), stomatitis (13 percent vs. 16 percent) and thrombocytopenia (11 percent vs. 7 percent). In the daratumumabVTd combination arm, infusionrelated reactions occurred in 35 percent of patients.

SANOFI GRANTS REGENERON WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE LICENSE RIGHTS TO LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB)

Sanofi restructures its immunooncology collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Under the amended and

restated license and collaboration agreement, Regeneron will obtain worldwide exclusive license rights to Libtayo. The Sanofi and Regeneron global immuno-oncology license and collaboration agreement was originally executed in 2015. Prior to today, the companies had split Libtayo’s worldwide operating profits equally and co-commercialized Libtayo in the U.S., with Sanofi solely responsible for commercialization in the rest of the world.

Bill Sibold, Executive Vice President of Specialty Care & President of North America, Sanofi said, “Our diverse oncology portfolio doubled between 2019 and 2022 and now includes twelve compounds in clinical trials, each with a unique mechanism of action. Our early steps with Libtayo in immunooncology provided a strong foundation for our revitalized oncology efforts. Now, we are focused on leveraging our internal capabilities and advancing a new generation of oncology medicines. We continue to maintain a strong partnership with Regeneron in immunology, and will work closely with them on the seamless transition of Libtayo to ensure there is no impact for patients.” Under the terms of the amended and restated immuno-oncology license and collaboration agreement, Sanofi will transfer the rights to develop, commercialize, and manufacture Libtayo entirely to Regeneron, on a worldwide basis, over the course of a defined transition period (to start upon receipt of any required governmental clearances worldwide). In exchange, Sanofi will receive an upfront payment of $900 million, and an 11% royalty on worldwide net sales of Libtayo. Sanofi will also be entitled to a $100 million regulatory milestone payment upon the first approval by either the FDA or European Commission of Libtayo in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of certain patients with NSCLC, as well as sales-related milestone payments of up to $100 million in total over the next two years. The transaction is subject to clearance under competition law and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022. Regeneron will also accelerate reimbursement of the development balance associated with Regeneron and Sanofi’s separate Antibody Collaboration. Regeneron will increase from 10% to 20% the share of its profits that are paid to Sanofi to reimburse Sanofifunded development expenses, until Regeneron’s share of the total cumulative development costs incurred under the collaboration has been reached.

Sanofi continues to build its considerable expertise in oncology and has increased research and development capabilities, focusing on difficult to treat cancers including breast, blood, and lung. We are committed to translating scientific discoveries into potential new treatments and addressing critical gaps in cancer care.

UNAIDS RESPONDS TO VIIV’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE LICENSING OF LONG-ACTING CABOTEGRAVIR

HIV medicine manufacturer Viiv has announced that it is “actively negotiating” a voluntary license with the Medicines Patent Pool on long-acting Cabotegravir. The World Health Organization will soon issue updated global guidelines on the appropriate application of new long-acting HIV medicines.

Responding to the announcement made by Viiv, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director a.i. Matt Kavanagh said, “Last year there were 1.5 million new HIV infections, which shows the urgency of global access to new tools to overcome this pandemic. A successful global HIV response depends on the sharing of technologies. We are encouraged by ViiV’s announcement of negotiations with the Med icines Patent Pool, which has followed engagement by UN partners, financing agencies, civil society, and others. The announcement is an important sign of progress toward affordable global access to this technology for the HIV response; it now needs to be followed by rapid action, in order to translate promises into medicines.

“To have transformative impact as a tool for HIV prevention on the scale needed, it is vital that a license for this long-acting antiretroviral come quickly, with open non-exclusive terms for use and production across the world’s low- and middleincome countries. The licensing agreement should also be accompanied by an effective transfer of a technology package, to facilitate quality-assured manufacturers around the world to produce the medicines as soon as possible. There is an urgent need for large-scale production to get underway in Africa, Asia, Latin America and beyond, as soon as possible, to minimize the further wait for affordable products where they are most needed. “Because generic manufacturing will take time to get running, even once a license is agreed, it is also key that ViiV name an interim price that is affordable for low- and middle-income countries.

“Those who need new HIV prevention tools most are too often those who get access last — but this need not happen. “We can, as promised, end AIDS as a public health crisis by 2030 – if leaders act boldly to address the inequalities which have driven it. Hoarding life-saving science hurts everyone; it perpetuates pandemics. Sharing life-saving science benefits everyone."

MAYOR UNVEILS PROFESSOR GERRY O’SULLIVAN MEMORIAL STATUE

On National Cancer Survivors Day, Sunday June 5, a life-sized statue was revealed by a West Cork community to honour the late Professor Gerry O’Sullivan, a pioneer in the field of cancer research, and founder of Cork Cancer Research Centre and the national charity Breakthrough Cancer Research.

The statue was officially unveiled in the Professor Gerry O’Sullivan Memorial Park, Caheragh, by the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan and Professor of Sullivan’s widow Breda and family. The keynote speaker at the event was one of the world’s most influential scientists, leading immunologist, author and broadcast personality, Professor Luke O’Neill. Professor O’Neill is a regular contributor to discussions on science and research on TV and radio in Ireland and around the world. Like many said of Professor O’Sullivan, he has an infectious enthusiasm and belief in the power of science to help us live better lives, so those attending can expect to be inspired. Professor O’Sullivan was a highly acclaimed surgeon, scientist and cancer researcher. His worldrenowned clinical expertise was matched by his belief in the power of research to mould a better future for people with cancer. Chair of the committee Micheál Kirby, said, “Professor O’Sullivan died at the young age of 65 from cancer, a disease he had spent his whole career saving others from. We are so incredibly proud of his achievements and the man he became and want to encourage young people in our community to follow in his footsteps. Nothing is impossible when you have passion, determination and a kind heart. Gerry never forgot his roots in West Cork and we will always remember him.”

Professor O’Sullivan’s work continues with Breakthrough Cancer Research, an Irish medical cancer research charity that he founded on the unshakeable belief in Cork and in Ireland that we can make more survivors of cancer and we will do that through research. Breakthrough invest in world-class research in Ireland to impact the quality of life for cancer patients and to save lives. They are particularly focused on improving outcomes for cancers which are poorly served by current treatment options and have helped take 9 new treatments from the lab into clinical trial.

The statue unveiling is an event open to the public from 1.30pm4pm on Sunday 5th June. In addition to the commemoration ceremony, there will be dancing performances from the local national school, music with the St Fachtna’s Silver Band, facepainting and food trucks.

Professor Gerry O’Sullivan