Immunic hosted Multiple Sclerosis R&D Webcast, presenting updates on its lead asset, vidofludimus calcium

The company discussed the MS treatment landscape and recent scientific findings with key opinion leaders.

Das Immunic Management Team (v. li.): Dr. Andreas Mühler (CMO), Dr. Hella Kohlhof (CSO) und Dr. Daniel Vitt (CEO & Präsident).

The Immunic Management Team (from left): Dr. Andreas Mühler (CMO), Dr. Hella Kohlhof (CSO) and Dr. Daniel Vitt (CEO & President).

“The newly obtained data from our phase 2 EMPhASIS trial of vidofludimus calcium in RRMS patients are highly encouraging. If approved, we believe that vidofludimus calcium has the potential to be a unique treatment option targeted to the biology of MS with combined anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and neuroprotective effects.”

Daniel Vitt,Ph.D, CEO and President of Immunic

IZB alum Immunic Therapeutics (Nasdaq: IMUX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of selective oral immunology therapies focused on treating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, hosted a Multiple Sclerosis R&D Webcast on November 17, 2022. During the event, Immunic provided newly available data from phase 2 EMPhASIS trial of lead asset, vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838), in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Long-term open-label treatment with vidofludimus calcium was associated with a low rate of confirmed disability worsening over time, and compares favorably to historical trial data for currently available multiple sclerosis (MS) medications. In addition, the presentation included an update of the ongoing phase 3 ENSURE program in relapsing MS and the ongoing phase 2 CALLIPER trial in progressive MS, as well as the drug’s potential strategic and commercial positioning in the MS landscape.

Furthermore, three key opinion leaders were invited to discuss recent scientific findings and their effect on the MS treatment landscape:

  • Fred D. Lublin, M.D., Saunders Family Professor of Neurology, Director, The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
  • Lawrence Steinman, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Pediatrics, and Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford, CA, USA
  • Heinz Wiendl, M.D., Ph.D., Director Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

They were joined by Immunic’s speakers Daniel Vitt, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President, Andreas Muehler, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer and Hella Kohlhof, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer.

EMPhASIS is an international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-group trial, designed to assess the efficacy and safety of vidofludimus calcium in patients with RRMS. The trial included a 24-week blinded main treatment period testing 10, 30 and 45 mg of vidofludimus calcium and placebo. In the third quarter of 2020, Immunic reported that the trial achieved both primary and key secondary endpoints with high statistical significance, with a safety and tolerability profile similar to placebo.

The trial also includes an optional long-term open-label extension (OLE) phase running up to 9.5 years. An interim analysis was performed with data extraction in October 2022, when 209 patients remained on treatment in the OLE phase, some of whom have already received more than 180 continuous weeks (approximately four years) of active treatment with vidofludimus calcium.

During the 24-week double-blind main treatment period, 12-week and 24-week Confirmed Disability Worsening (12w/24wCDW) events occurred in 1.6% of subjects in the combined vidofludimus calcium treatment arms as compared to 3.7% in the placebo group. In the OLE phase, the proportion of patients free from 12wCDW was 97.6% after 48 weeks and 94.5% after 96 weeks of vidofludimus calcium treatment as compared to the start of the OLE phase. Similar results were observed for 24wCDW and sustained CDW. The OLE phase also showed low relapse activity.

“The newly obtained data from our phase 2 EMPhASIS trial of vidofludimus calcium in RRMS patients demonstrate an encouraging signal in preventing 12-week and 24-week confirmed disability worsening events as compared to placebo during the double-blind treatment phase. In addition, only a few patients on continuous open-label treatment with vidofludimus calcium developed confirmed disability worsening events over a 2-year time frame, and those rates observed with vidofludimus calcium are on the lower end of those observed in historical trials with currently approved MS medications,” stated Daniel Vitt, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Immunic. “We look forward to receiving further, confirmatory data from our phase 3 ENSURE program in relapsing MS as well as our phase 2 CALLIPER trial in progressive MS. Our next MS-related data inflection point is an interim analysis for CALLIPER at the end of 2023 which will provide selected biomarker and functional data to guide study progress. If approved, we believe that vidofludimus calcium has the potential to be a unique treatment option targeted to the biology of MS with combined anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and neuroprotective effects.”

Immunic develops therapies for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
Immunic (Nasdaq: IMUX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of selective oral immunology therapies focused on treating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The company is developing three small molecule products: its lead development program, vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838), a selective immune modulator that inhibits the intracellular metabolism of activated immune cells by blocking the enzyme DHODH and exhibits a host-based antiviral effect, is currently being developed as a treatment option for multiple sclerosis. IMU-935, a selective inverse agonist of the transcription factor RORγ/RORγt, is targeted for development in psoriasis, and castration-resistant prostate cancer. IMU-856, which targets the restoration of the intestinal barrier function, is targeted for development in diseases involving bowel barrier dysfunction. For further information, please visit: www.imux.com.