– Senior Executive and Thought Leader in Brain
Health with Nearly Three Decades of Global Pharmaceutical
Experience –
– Served as Neuroimmunology Franchise Head
Responsible for Roche's Blockbuster Launch of Multiple Sclerosis
Therapy Ocrevus® –
NEW
YORK, July 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Immunic,
Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX), a biotechnology company developing a
clinical pipeline of orally administered, small molecule therapies
for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, today announced
the appointment of Simona Skerjanec,
M.Pharm, MBA, a thought-leader in brain health with decades of
experience in drug development and commercialization, to its board
of directors, effective July 22,
2024.
Over a nearly three-decade career in the United States and internationally, Ms.
Skerjanec has led research and development efforts culminating in
numerous regulatory drug approvals and successful commercial
launches. Most recently, Ms. Skerjanec served as Senior Vice
President, Global Head Neuroscience and Rare Diseases at Roche. In
this role, she led business and global corporate strategy for
Roche's portfolio of neurological and rare diseases, achieving
sustainable double digit growth in sales, including with Ocrevus®
(ocrelizumab)*, which remains one of the most successful medicines
for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Earlier at Roche, Ms.
Skerjanec served as Neuroimmunology Franchise Head, responsible for
the commercial launch of Ocrevus®, generating over $1 billion in sales in the first ten months of
commercialization. Prior to joining Roche, Ms. Skerjanec held
positions of increasing responsibility in development and
commercialization at The Medicines Company, Eli Lilly, Pfizer and
Johnson & Johnson. Ms. Skerjanec also serves on the Board of
Directors of Avidity Biosciences.
"We are thrilled to add someone of Simona's exceptional caliber
and expertise to our Board of Directors," stated Duane Nash, M.D., J.D., M.B.A., Chairman of the
Board of Directors of Immunic. "As the company approaches multiple
late-stage readouts for vidofludimus calcium in MS over the next
two years, we are determined to continue building a strong
foundation for potential success. Earlier this month, we were
delighted to bring on Jason Tardio,
a former Novartis and Biogen executive with extensive MS drug
commercialization experience, as Immunic's new Chief Operating
Officer and President. Now with Simona's entry onto the board, we
are proud to augment the company's growing strength with a board
member with such exceptional global leadership experience and who
previously led one of the most successful commercial launches in MS
history. Simona's guidance will be invaluable."
"I am very excited to join the Board of Directors of Immunic and
look forward to working closely with the executive management team
and the other board members," added Ms. Skerjanec. "MS remains a
devastating disease for many patients and their families. In my
view, vidofludimus calcium is a particularly valuable oral drug
candidate, with a highly differentiated profile and the potential
to transform the treatment landscape and bring longer lasting
independence to people with MS. I look forward to working with the
team, and hope to help bring such an important molecule to market
and achieve commercial success."
* OCREVUS® is a trademark of Genentech, Inc.
About Immunic, Inc.
Immunic, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX) is a biotechnology company developing
a clinical pipeline of orally administered, small molecule
therapies for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The
company's lead development program, vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838),
is currently in phase 3 and phase 2 clinical trials for the
treatment of relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis,
respectively, and has shown therapeutic activity in phase 2
clinical trials in patients suffering from relapsing-remitting
multiple sclerosis, progressive multiple sclerosis and
moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Vidofludimus calcium
combines neuroprotective effects, through its mechanism as a
first-in-class nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1) activator, with
additional anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects, by selectively
inhibiting the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH).
IMU-856, which targets the protein Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), is intended
to restore intestinal barrier function and regenerate bowel
epithelium, which could potentially be applicable in numerous
gastrointestinal diseases, such as celiac disease, for which it is
currently in preparations for a phase 2 clinical trial. IMU-381,
which currently is in preclinical testing, is a next generation
molecule being developed to specifically address the needs of
gastrointestinal diseases. For further information, please visit:
www.imux.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that
involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the
safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical
facts, included in this press release regarding new management
hires and promotions, new directors, strategy, future operations,
future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses,
sufficiency of cash, expected timing, development and results of
clinical trials, prospects, plans and objectives of management are
forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include,
but are not limited to, statements relating to Immunic's
development programs and the targeted diseases; the potential for
Immunic's development programs to safely and effectively target
diseases; preclinical and clinical data for Immunic's development
programs; the timing of current and future clinical trials and
anticipated clinical milestones; the nature, strategy and focus of
the company and further updates with respect thereto; the
development and commercial potential of any product candidates of
the company; expectations regarding the capitalization, resources
and ownership structure of the company; new appointments to
Immunic's board of directors; and the executive and board structure
of the company. Immunic may not actually achieve the plans, carry
out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections
disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Such
statements are based on management's current expectations and
involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results and
performance could differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including,
without limitation, increasing inflation, impacts of the
Ukraine – Russia conflict and the conflict in the
Middle East on planned and ongoing
clinical trials, risks and uncertainties associated with the
ability to project future cash utilization and reserves needed for
contingent future liabilities and business operations, the
availability of sufficient financial and other resources to meet
business objectives and operational requirements, the fact that the
results of earlier preclinical studies and clinical trials may not
be predictive of future clinical trial results, the protection and
market exclusivity provided by Immunic's intellectual property,
risks related to the drug development and the regulatory approval
process and the impact of competitive products and technological
changes. A further list and descriptions of these risks,
uncertainties and other factors can be found in the section
captioned "Risk Factors," in the company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2023, filed with the SEC on February
22, 2024, and in the company's subsequent filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are
available online at www.sec.gov or ir.imux.com/sec-filings. Any
forward-looking statement made in this release speaks only as of
the date of this release. Immunic disclaims any intent or
obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances that exist after the date on which they
were made. Immunic expressly disclaims all liability in respect to
actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this
press release.
Contact Information
Immunic, Inc.
Jessica Breu
Vice President Investor Relations and Communications
+49 89 2080 477 09
jessica.breu@imux.com
US IR Contact
Rx Communications Group
Paula Schwartz
+1 917 633 7790
immunic@rxir.com
US Media Contact
KOGS Communication
Edna Kaplan
+1 617 974 8659
kaplan@kogspr.com
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SOURCE Immunic, Inc.