InflaRx Announces Outcome of Interim Analysis for Vilobelimab Phase 3 Trial in Pyoderma Gangrenosum
- GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) maintains its Emergency Use Authorization in the US for COVID-19 treatment
- EU marketing authorization under exceptional circumstances for SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS remains active
- Company plans to optimize resources and implement cost savings to extend cash runway
- Upcoming Phase 2a data readouts for INF904 expected this summer
- Phase 3 trial of vilobelimab for pyoderma gangrenosum failed due to futility
- Company forced to discontinue vilobelimab development in the PG indication
- Additional costs and resources required for restructuring and redirection of focus
Insights
InflaRx's Phase 3 trial for vilobelimab in pyoderma gangrenosum failed, forcing pipeline reprioritization to their oral C5aR inhibitor.
The announcement of the Phase 3 trial stoppage for vilobelimab in pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) represents a significant clinical setback for InflaRx. The Independent Data Monitoring Committee's recommendation to stop the trial due to futility after analyzing data from just 30 patients indicates the treatment showed no meaningful efficacy signal in this indication. This outcome effectively removes one potential commercial opportunity from InflaRx's pipeline.
InflaRx is now pivoting to prioritize resources toward INF904, their oral C5aR inhibitor, with Phase 2a readouts in both chronic spontaneous urticaria and hidradenitis suppurativa expected this summer. This strategic shift is a standard response following clinical failure, allowing the company to focus on potentially more promising assets.
From a pipeline perspective, it's worth noting that vilobelimab isn't completely abandoned - it maintains its Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 in the US and marketing authorization under exceptional circumstances in the EU for SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS. The company will continue supporting the BARDA-funded Phase 2 platform study for this indication.
The mention of "additional cost savings and redirection of resources" signals potential restructuring or workforce reductions to extend the company's cash runway. This suggests management is implementing a defensive financial strategy following this clinical disappointment, which is crucial for smaller biotechs with limited revenue streams.
JENA, Germany, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InflaRx N.V. (Nasdaq: IFRX), a biopharmaceutical company pioneering anti-inflammatory therapeutics targeting the complement system, today announced that the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) conducting the unblinded interim analysis for the Phase 3 trial for vilobelimab in pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), recommended that the trial be stopped due to futility. This recommendation was based on data analysis of the first 30 patients enrolled in the study, with no unexpected adverse events noted by the IDMC. InflaRx as the study sponsor remains blinded to the study results.
Prof. Niels C. Riedemann, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of InflaRx, said: “We would like to thank the dedicated physicians and pyoderma gangrenosum patients for their participation in this pioneering study targeting a significant unmet need. While the outcome is not what we had hoped it would be, InflaRx remains committed to its goal of developing new therapies for underserved patients with chronic immune-dermatological conditions, including with our oral inhibitor of C5aR, INF904, with data expected this summer.”
InflaRx intends to discontinue further development of vilobelimab in the PG indication and to prioritize its resources on INF904, with Phase 2a data readouts in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) anticipated this summer. The Company is also considering additional cost savings and redirection of resources toward the goal of extending the Company’s existing cash runway.
GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) remains available in the US where it has been granted Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults when initiated within 48 hours of receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The Company will continue its support of the BARDA-funded Phase 2 clinical platform study.
In the EU, GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) has been granted marketing authorization under exceptional circumstances for the treatment of adult patients with SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who are receiving systemic corticosteroids as part of standard of care and receiving IMV with or without ECMO.
About InflaRx N.V.
InflaRx (Nasdaq: IFRX) is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering anti-inflammatory therapeutics by applying its proprietary anti-C5a and anti-C5aR technologies to discover, develop and commercialize highly potent and specific inhibitors of the complement activation factor C5a and its receptor C5aR. C5a is a powerful inflammatory mediator involved in the progression of a wide variety of inflammatory diseases. InflaRx’s lead product candidate, vilobelimab, is a novel, intravenously delivered, first-in-class, anti-C5a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to free C5a and has demonstrated disease-modifying clinical activity and tolerability in multiple clinical studies in different indications. InflaRx is also developing INF904, an orally administered small molecule inhibitor of C5a-induced signaling via the C5a receptor. InflaRx was founded in 2007, and the group has offices and subsidiaries in Jena and Munich, Germany, as well as Ann Arbor, MI, USA. For further information, please visit www.inflarx.de.
InflaRx GmbH (Germany) and InflaRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (USA) are wholly owned subsidiaries of InflaRx N.V. (together, InflaRx).
About GOHIBIC (vilobelimab)
In the U.S., GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) has been granted an Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults when initiated within 48 hours of receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The emergency use of GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated, or authorization revoked sooner.
GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) is an investigational drug that has not been approved by the FDA for any indication, including for the treatment of COVID-19. There is limited information known about the safety and effectiveness of using GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) to treat people in the hospital with COVID-19. Please see additional information in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers, Fact Sheet for Patients and Parents/Caregivers and FDA Letter of Authorization on the GOHIBIC website http://www.gohibic.com.
In the EU, GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) has been granted marketing authorization under exceptional circumstances for the treatment of adult patients with SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who are receiving systemic corticosteroids as part of standard of care and receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) with or without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The EU approval of GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) is supported by the previously announced results of the multicenter Phase 3 PANAMO trial, one of the largest 1:1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in invasively mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. The results showed that vilobelimab treatment improved survival with a relative reduction in 28-day all-cause mortality of
A marketing authorization under exceptional circumstances is recommended when the benefit/risk assessment is determined to be positive but, due to the rarity of the disease, it’s unlikely that comprehensive data can be obtained under normal conditions of use. Under the terms of GOHIBIC’s (vilobelimab’s) approval in the EC, InflaRx will provide annual updates to EMA on the previously announced clinical platform study planned by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Vilobelimab is included in this study as one of three new potential therapies for treating ARDS.
The COVID-19 related work described herein was partly funded by the German Federal Government through grant number 16LW0113 (VILO-COVID). All responsibility for the content of this work lies with InflaRx.
Important Safety Information about GOHIBIC (vilobelimab)
There is limited clinical data available for GOHIBIC (vilobelimab). Serious and unexpected adverse events (AEs) may occur that have not been previously reported with GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) use.
GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) has been associated with an increase of serious infections. In patients with COVID-19, monitor for signs and symptoms of new infections during and after treatment with GOHIBIC (vilobelimab). Hypersensitivity reactions have been observed with GOHIBIC (vilobelimab). If a severe hypersensitivity reaction occurs, administration of GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) should be discontinued and appropriate therapy initiated.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥
Healthcare providers and/or their designee are responsible for mandatory FDA MedWatch reporting of all medication errors and serious AEs or deaths that occur during GOHIBIC (vilobelimab) treatment and are considered to be potentially attributable to GOHIBIC (vilobelimab).
Report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.FDA.gov/medwatch. In addition, side effects can be reported to InflaRx at: pvusa@inflarx.de.
For the full prescribing information and additional important safety information, please visit www.GOHIBIC.com.
The COVID-19 related work described herein was partly funded by the German Federal Government through grant number 16LW0113 (VILO-COVID). All responsibility for the content of this work lies with InflaRx.
About vilobelimab
Vilobelimab is a first-in-class monoclonal anti-human complement factor C5a antibody, which highly and effectively blocks the biological activity of C5a and demonstrates high selectivity towards its target in human blood. Thus, vilobelimab leaves the formation of the membrane attack complex (C5b-9) intact as an important defense mechanism of the innate immune system, which is not the case for molecules blocking C5. In pre-clinical studies, vilobelimab has been shown to control the inflammatory response-driven tissue and organ damage by specifically blocking C5a as a key “amplifier” of this response.
Contacts:
| InflaRx N.V. | MC Services AG |
| Jan Medina, CFA Vice President, Head of Investor Relations Email: IR@inflarx.de | Katja Arnold, Laurie Doyle, Dr. Regina Lutz Email: inflarx@mc-services.eu Europe: +49 89-210 2280 U.S.: +1-339-832-0752 |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “estimate,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” among others. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this release and may include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses, current expectations and the risks, uncertainties and other factors described under the headings, “Risk factors” and “Cautionary statement regarding forward looking statements”, in our periodic filings with the SEC. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law.
FAQ
Why did IFRX stock's Phase 3 trial for vilobelimab fail?
What is InflaRx's (IFRX) next focus after the vilobelimab trial failure?
Does vilobelimab (GOHIBIC) still have any approved uses?
What measures is IFRX taking to maintain financial stability?
