-- Top-Line Data from Phase 3 ENSURE Trials of Vidofludimus Calcium in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Expected by Year-End 2026 --
-- Raised Proceeds of $200 Million in a Private Placement, with Potential for up to an Additional $200 Million --
-- Net Proceeds Expected to Fund Completion of Phase 3 ENSURE Trials in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis, Initiation of Phase 3 Trial in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Begin of Transition into a Commercial Organization --
NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Immunic, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX), a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of novel oral therapies for neurologic and gastrointestinal diseases, today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, and provided a corporate update.
"The phase 3 ENSURE-1 and ENSURE-2 trials of our lead asset, orally available nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1) activator, vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) continue to progress, with top-line data expected to be available by the end of 2026," stated Daniel Vitt, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Immunic. "As we continue to advance our multiple sclerosis $(MS)$ program with vidofludimus calcium, we were extremely pleased to have recently announced the successful completion of an oversubscribed private placement of up to $400 million in gross proceeds, with $200 million in upfront gross proceeds. This financing is truly a pivotal milestone for Immunic and positions us to confidently transition into a fully integrated commercial-stage company. The transaction was led by our existing investor BVF Partners L.P. with participation from a group of highly regarded new and other existing investors. This level of commitment reflects growing confidence in our program and reinforces our belief in vidofludimus calcium's potential to address the underlying drivers of MS progression."
"The proceeds from the initial closing are expected to fund our operations through the ENSURE top-line data and our planned RMS New Drug Application (NDA) submission in the United States in mid-2027, with a targeted potential regulatory approval date in 2028," continued Dr. Vitt. "They also support preparations for the potential launch of vidofludimus calcium in RMS, including expansion of our medical and commercial infrastructure. Additionally, based on the totality of the phase 2 CALLIPER trial data in progressive MS, which showed not only substantial and medically relevant reductions for vidofludimus calcium in delaying 24-week confirmed disability progression but also statistically significant 24-week confirmed disability improvement, while confirming the drug's favorable safety and tolerability profile already observed in previous clinical trials, we plan to initiate a confirmatory phase 3 program in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) later this year as well."
Jason Tardio, President and Chief Operating Officer of Immunic, added, "This is an exciting moment for Immunic and for individuals living with MS, as we believe that vidofludimus calcium could represent a potentially transformative approach to disease modification. Current oral therapies for RMS mainly control inflammation and relapses, often have complex safety and tolerability issues and do not adequately address the neurodegenerative processes driving disability progression and long-term disability. In contrast, vidofludimus calcium is uniquely designed to provide direct neuroprotective effects by enhancing neuronal survival and function through Nurr1 activation, while reducing new inflammatory damage via selective DHODH inhibition. This first-in-class mechanism has the potential to address the two key biological drivers of disability progression--relapse-associated worsening (RAW) and progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA)--potentially offering advantages over currently available therapies that primarily focus on inflammatory relapses. As such, we believe vidofludimus calcium may achieve a best-in-class benefit-risk profile and, therefore, could represent a large commercial opportunity in the global MS market, which is projected to reach over $30 billion by the early 2030s."
Fourth Quarter 2025 and Subsequent Highlights
-- February 2026: Completed an oversubscribed private placement of up to
$400 million in gross proceeds, led by existing investor BVF Partners
L.P. with participation from Aberdeen Investments, Avidity Partners,
Coastlands Capital, EcoR1 Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, OrbiMed, RA
Capital Management, TCGX, Trails Edge Capital Partners, Vivo Capital,
Woodline Partners LP, and other institutional investors. A total of $200
million in gross proceeds to Immunic was received upon closing on
February 17, 2026.
-- Simona Skerjanec, former SVP, Global Head of Neuroscience and Rare
Diseases at Roche, elevated to Interim Chairperson of the Board of
Directors. Dr. Duane Nash, former Chairman, remains a member of
the Board. Thor Nagel, Principal at BVF Partners L.P., appointed
to the Board. Plans underway for further Board refreshment to
support the company's evolution into a commercial-stage
organization.
-- Initiated search for a new Chief Executive Officer with deep
commercial expertise in MS to lead Immunic into its next stage of
growth and commercialization. Subsequently, Dr. Vitt will return
to his roots and transition to a new senior executive role focused
on scientific strategy and portfolio advancement, while remaining
on the Board.
-- February 2026: Presented additional data from the phase 2 CALLIPER trial
of vidofludimus calcium in patients with progressive MS at the ACTRIMS
Forum 2026. The findings, presented in two poster presentations, provide
additional evidence of vidofludimus calcium's effects on key biological
drivers of disease progression, including antiviral immune responses
linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
markers of both acute-focal and chronic-compartmentalized inflammation.
The findings further reinforce Immunic's belief that vidofludimus calcium
has the potential to address underlying mechanisms of disease progression
in MS patients.
Anticipated Clinical Milestones
-- Vidofludimus calcium in MS:
-- Top-line data from the twin phase 3 ENSURE-1 and ENSURE-2 trials
in RMS is expected by the end of 2026. Subsequently, Immunic plans
to submit an NDA in the United States in mid-2027, with a targeted
potential regulatory approval date in 2028.
-- Initiation of a phase 3 clinical program in PPMS is expected later
this year and estimated to take approximately 3.5 to 4 years to
complete.
-- IMU-856: The company continues preparing for further clinical testing of
IMU-856, contingent on financing, licensing or partnering.
Financial and Operating Results
-- Research and Development (R&D) Expenses were $82.0 million for the twelve
months ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $80.0 million for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2024. The $1.9 million increase reflects
(i) a $3.9 million increase in external development costs related to the
vidofludimus calcium program and (ii) a $1.8 million increase in
personnel expenses for R&D. The increase was offset by (i) a $3.0 million
decrease in external development costs related to IMU-856 and (ii) a $0.8
million decrease across numerous categories.
-- General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses were $21.2 million for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $18.0 million for
the same period ended December 31, 2024. The $3.2 million increase was
due to (i) a $1.9 million increase related to personnel expenses, of
which $0.3 million was related to non-cash stock compensation, (ii) a
$0.8 million increase in legal and consultancy expenses and (iii) a $0.5
million increase related to costs across numerous categories.
-- Interest Income was $1.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31,
2025, as compared to $3.4 million for the twelve months ended December
31, 2024. The $2.4 million decrease was due to a lower average cash
balance.
-- In the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, there was a non-cash charge
related to the change in value of the tranche rights associated with the
January 2024 Financing from January 8, 2024 until March 4, 2024. These
tranches were initially classified as a liability, but were reclassified
to equity on March 4, 2024, when stockholders approved the increase in
the company's authorized shares from 130 million to 500 million shares of
common stock and, therefore, the tranche 2 and tranche 3 rights needed to
be revalued to fair value upon the reclassification to equity. There was
no change in fair value of the tranche rights recognized in the twelve
months ended December 31, 2025.
-- Other Income (Expense) was $5.0 million for the twelve months ended
December 31, 2025, as compared to ($1.0 million) for the same period
ended December 31, 2024. The $6.1 million increase was primarily
attributable to (i) $4.8 million of grant income from the German Federal
Ministry of Finance, of which $1.0 million was recognized in the first
quarter 2025 and $3.8 million was recognized in the fourth quarter 2025,
(ii) a $1.7 million expense related to the portion of deal costs from the
January 2024 Financing related to the tranche rights that were
established at the time of the deal closing in 2024 and (iii) a $0.3
million increase across numerous categories. The increase was offset by a
$0.7 million decrease in research and development tax incentives for
clinical trials in Australia due to lower clinical trial spend in
Australia.
-- Net Loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, was approximately
$97.2 million, or $0.62 per basic and diluted share, based on 155,688,030
weighted average common shares outstanding, compared to a net loss of
approximately $100.5 million, or $1.00 per basic and diluted share, based
on 100,174,766 weighted average common shares outstanding for the same
period ended December 31, 2024.
-- Cash and Cash Equivalents as of December 31, 2025 were approximately
$15.5 million. With these funds and the approximately $187.0 million net
cash proceeds raised in the February 2026 private placement, Immunic
expects to be able to fund its operations into late 2027.
About Immunic, Inc.
Immunic, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX) is a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of novel oral therapies for neurologic and gastrointestinal diseases. The company's lead development program, vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838), is currently in phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, for which top-line data is expected to be available by the end of 2026. It has already shown therapeutic activity in phase 2 clinical trials in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, progressive multiple sclerosis and other diseases. 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, inflammatory bowel disease, and Graft-versus-Host-Disease. IMU-381 comprises next-generation molecules in preclinical testing for neurologic, gastrointestinal and other autoimmune diseases leveraging the company's Nurr1 platform. 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 strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, sufficiency of cash and cash runway, 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 feasibility of advancing vidofludimus calcium to a confirmatory phase 3 clinical trial in progressive multiple sclerosis; the timing of current and future clinical trials, anticipated clinical milestones and regulatory approvals; the nature, strategy and focus of the company and further updates with respect thereto; and the development and commercial potential of any product candidates 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, tariffs and macroeconomics trends, 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, and the ability to raise sufficient capital to continue as a going concern, the fact that the results of earlier preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future clinical trial results, any changes to the size of the target markets for the company's products or product candidates, 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, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026, and in the company's subsequent filings with the SEC. 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 of 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
KCSA Strategic Communications
Caitlin Kasunich
+1 212 896 1241
ckasunich@kcsa.com
Financials
Immunic, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Years Ended December 31,
2025 2024
-------------------- --------------------
Operating expenses:
Research and development $ 81,983 $ 80,046
General and administrative 21,245 18,006
Total operating expenses 103,228 98,052
-------------------- --------------------
Loss from operations (103,228) (98,052)
-------------------- --------------------
Other income (expense):
Interest income 1,040 3,390
Change in fair value of the
tranche rights -- (4,796)
Other income (expense), net 5,016 (1,049)
-------------------- --------------------
Total other income (expense),
net 6,056 (2,455)
-------------------- --------------------
Net loss $ (97,172) $ (100,507)
==================== ====================
Net loss per share, basic and
diluted $ (0.62) $ (1.00)
==================== ====================
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding, basic and diluted 155,688,030 100,174,766
==================== ====================
Immunic, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
December 31,
2025 2024
----------------- -------------------
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,483 $ 35,668
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 7,386 3,664
----------------- -------------------
Total current assets 22,869 39,332
Property and equipment, net 608 545
Right of use asset, net 575 991
Total assets $ 24,052 $ 40,868
================= ===================
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
(Deficit)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 10,138 $ 7,846
Accrued expenses 18,645 12,913
Other current liabilities 1,835 1,416
----------------- -------------------
Total current liabilities 30,618 22,175
----------------- -------------------
Long-term liabilities:
Operating lease liabilities 107 264
----------------- -------------------
Total long-term liabilities 107 264
----------------- -------------------
Total liabilities 30,725 22,439
----------------- -------------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value;
20,000,000 authorized and no shares
issued or outstanding at
December 31, 2025 and 2024 -- --
Common stock, $0.0001 par value;
500,000,000 shares authorized as of
December 31, 2025 and December 31,
2024, respectively, and 120,382,625
and 90,150,869 shares issued and
outstanding as of December 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024,
respectively. 9 8
Additional paid-in capital 599,241 525,611
Accumulated other comprehensive
income 2,648 4,209
Accumulated deficit (608,571) (511,399)
----------------- -------------------
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) (6,673) 18,429
----------------- -------------------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity (deficit) $ 24,052 $ 40,868
================= ===================
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SOURCE Immunic, Inc.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 26, 2026 06:30 ET (11:30 GMT)
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