Company Description
Immunic, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX) is a late-stage biotechnology company focused on developing orally administered, small molecule therapies. According to the company’s disclosures, Immunic is pioneering novel oral treatments for neurologic and gastrointestinal diseases and is also described as developing a clinical pipeline for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
The company’s lead development program is vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838), an orally administered investigational small molecule drug. Immunic reports that vidofludimus calcium is in phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), with top-line data from twin ENSURE-1 and ENSURE-2 trials expected by the end of 2026. Vidofludimus calcium has already shown therapeutic activity in phase 2 clinical trials in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS), including primary progressive and secondary progressive forms, based on company communications.
Core scientific focus and mechanisms
Immunic characterizes vidofludimus calcium as having a first-in-class dual mode of action that targets the complex pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. The company states that the drug:
- Acts as a nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1) activator, providing direct and indirect neuroprotective effects.
- Functions as a selective immune modulator by selectively inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which is associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects.
Across multiple press releases and presentations, Immunic highlights clinical and preclinical data suggesting that vidofludimus calcium may reduce confirmed disability worsening (CDW), support confirmed disability improvement (CDI), and impact measures such as thalamic brain volume loss and new or enlarging T2 lesion volume in multiple sclerosis studies. The company also emphasizes a favorable safety and tolerability profile observed to date, including long-term exposure in RRMS patients in the EMPhASIS trial’s open-label extension.
Multiple sclerosis clinical programs
Immunic’s disclosures describe a structured clinical program for vidofludimus calcium in MS:
- Relapsing MS (RMS): Vidofludimus calcium is being evaluated in twin phase 3 ENSURE-1 and ENSURE-2 trials in RMS. The company has reported completion of enrollment in these trials, with more than 1,100 patients randomized in each study across multiple countries.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): The phase 2 EMPhASIS trial in RRMS achieved its primary and key secondary endpoints with high statistical significance, according to Immunic. Long-term open-label extension data up to 5.5 years showed high proportions of patients remaining free of 12-week and 24-week confirmed disability worsening and low discontinuation rates, with no new safety signals reported.
- Progressive MS (PMS): The phase 2 CALLIPER trial in PMS, including primary progressive MS (PPMS) and non-active secondary progressive MS (naSPMS), generated data that Immunic describes as demonstrating statistically significant 24-week confirmed disability improvement and reductions in 24-week confirmed disability worsening across populations and subgroups. The company links these outcomes to vidofludimus calcium’s neuroprotective potential and Nurr1 activation mechanism and notes that 24-week confirmed disability worsening is an accepted regulatory endpoint in PMS.
Immunic has also communicated that vidofludimus calcium has been exposed to approximately 2,700 individuals in clinical development and continues to be evaluated in late-stage trials for MS. The company states that the drug is not yet licensed or approved in any country.
Gastrointestinal and barrier function pipeline
Beyond MS, Immunic is developing additional small molecule candidates targeting gastrointestinal diseases and barrier function:
- IMU-856: Described as an orally available and systemically acting small molecule modulator that targets Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6). Immunic states that IMU-856 is intended to restore intestinal barrier function and regenerate bowel epithelium. Company communications indicate that this mechanism could be applicable in gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Graft-versus-Host-Disease, and weight management. Early clinical and preclinical data cited by Immunic include effects on gut hormone levels, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and body weight in preclinical models.
- IMU-381: Identified as a next generation molecule in preclinical testing, being developed to specifically address the needs of gastrointestinal diseases, according to the company’s descriptions.
Immunic notes that it is preparing for further clinical testing of IMU-856, contingent on financing, licensing, or partnering, and continues preclinical work on IMU-381.
Intellectual property and regulatory positioning
The company reports a multi-layered intellectual property strategy for vidofludimus calcium. Public statements describe:
- Multiple granted patents in the United States, Europe and other jurisdictions directed to composition-of-matter for salt forms of vidofludimus, including the calcium salt used in clinical trials.
- Patents covering treatment of relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis with specific dose strengths and dosing regimens used in trials.
- Patents on a specific polymorph of vidofludimus calcium and a related method of production.
- A Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent covering dose strengths of vidofludimus calcium for PMS, including PPMS and SPMS, with protection described as extending into 2041 in the United States, subject to potential term extension.
Immunic also notes pending applications directed toward use of vidofludimus calcium and related forms in neurodegenerative diseases and additional undisclosed patent applications intended to extend exclusivity. The company indicates that vidofludimus calcium, as a new chemical entity, should also benefit from regulatory data protection.
Corporate profile and listing status
Immunic, Inc. is headquartered in New York, New York, based on its SEC filings, and its common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol IMUX. The company has disclosed receiving a Nasdaq notice in June 2025 regarding non-compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, with a defined compliance period and potential for an additional period. Immunic has stated its intention to monitor the bid price and evaluate options, including a possible reverse stock split, to regain compliance. The notice did not have an immediate effect on the listing of the common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Immunic has also reported equity financings, including a registered direct offering and an underwritten public offering, and has discussed its cash position and the need to raise additional capital to fund operations beyond specified time horizons. These disclosures highlight the company’s status as a clinical-stage biotechnology issuer that relies on external financing to support its development programs.
Business model and development focus
Based on its public communications, Immunic’s business model centers on discovering and developing oral small molecule therapies for immune-mediated and neurologic conditions, advancing them through clinical trials, and protecting them with patent portfolios. The company emphasizes:
- A focus on multiple sclerosis across relapsing and progressive forms, with vidofludimus calcium in late-stage development.
- An expansion into gastrointestinal and barrier-related diseases with IMU-856 and IMU-381.
- Use of clinical trial endpoints such as confirmed disability worsening and improvement, MRI-based measures, and long-term safety and tolerability to characterize its lead asset.
Immunic’s disclosures repeatedly underline the potential of Nurr1 activation and DHODH inhibition in MS, and SIRT6 modulation in gastrointestinal disorders, as the scientific basis for its pipeline.