INmune Bio, Inc. Announces Pre-Clinical Data That Support a Pioneering Approach to Treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
January 25 2023 - 07:45AM
GlobeNewswire Inc.
INmune Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: INMB) (the
“Company”), a clinical-stage immunology company focused on
developing treatments that harness the patient’s innate immune
system to fight disease, in collaboration with Professor Armando
Villalta, Ph.D. of University California, Irvine School of
Medicine, has shown targeting soluble TNF (sTNF) using a
Dominant-Negative TNF (DN-TNF) biologic significantly decreased
muscle damage in a murine mdx model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
(DMD) and showed a statistically significant increase in muscle
regeneration. Current clinical approaches to limiting muscle damage
and inflammation in DMD patients, such as corticosteroids, can be
immunosuppressive and promote metabolic problems, leading to
significant long-term side effects including muscle atrophy with
chronic use. There are currently no approved drugs that promote
muscle regeneration in DMD patients.
“These data are important because this single
drug appears to be decreasing muscle damage while promoting muscle
regeneration,” said Prof. Villalta. “We intend to submit these
important results for publication in the near term as we work
toward completing an additional ongoing study evaluating the impact
of this novel DN-TNF therapeutic on muscle fibrosis and cardiac
function in the D2-mdx model of the disease. Approved
DMD therapies aim to restore dystrophin expression or influence a
single pathology of this complex disease, for example chronic
inflammation. It is rare to see a single drug provide multiple
benefits and even rarer to see muscle regeneration as a key
outcome. The combination of these key positive benefits leads us to
believe this DN-TNF therapeutic has the potential to usher in a
whole new drug class for the treatment of DMD as well as other
neuromuscular diseases.”
DMD and other muscle disorders are the focus of
a diverse array of drug development efforts to slow disease
progression, such as decreasing inflammation and fibrosis, or by
restoring/replacing missing dystrophin. Prior pre-clinical attempts
using non-selective TNF inhibitors to target TNF as a therapeutic
approach for treatment of DMD were limited by some of the same side
effects identified in clinical and commercial use of these
non-selective TNF inhibitors. “Our DN-TNF biologic’s ability to
selectively target soluble TNF provides a precision medicine
approach to the treatment of DMD,” said RJ Tesi MD, CEO of INmune
Bio. “Neutralization of soluble TNF without affecting
trans-membrane TNF signaling appears to be a uniquely effective
therapeutic approach to managing muscle injury while also promoting
muscle regeneration in DMD. We have shown that DN-TNF
therapy promotes remodeling and repair in the CNS, heart and liver.
We can now add skeletal muscles to that list.”
The Company has formed a wholly owned
subsidiary, DN02, Inc., that will hold rights to DMD-specific
intellectual property and know-how. The subsidiary will facilitate
partnering and business development activities for DMD without
impacting the Company’s CNS programs. "This program was initiated
as a partnering program, and we have assembled a team with
expertise in DMD and rare diseases to explore opportunities to move
this program into the clinic,” said David Moss, CFO of INmune who
will lead business development activities for the Company. “Our
goal is to find a partner with expertise in DMD drug development to
lead the clinical advancement of this novel therapeutic
opportunity. While we know the DMD drug development
landscape is very active, we believe our DN-TNF biologic represents
a strong and differentiated new entrant into the space.”
“To pursue the many opportunities for treating
chronic inflammation and normalizing the immune system with our
DN-TNF platform, the company has created new DN-TNF compounds that
represent unique chemical entities and intellectual property,” said
Joshua Schoonover, INmune Bio’s Assoc. General Counsel. “The
Company believes this strategy will enable partnering opportunities
around rare disease applications, such as DMD, and further expand
DN-TNF therapeutic indications through potential joint ventures,
co-development arrangements, license or other partnerships without
compromising its clinical and research focus on its core XPro CNS
franchise.”
In summary, INmune Bio believes the therapeutic
benefits of DN-TNF in DMD are unique. The Company has put
together a development structure that allows the therapy to reach
patients without impacting the Company’s core mission – treatment
of Alzheimer’s and other CNS diseases. For business development
inquiries, please contact David Moss at dmoss@inmunebio.com.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare, genetic condition
characterized by progressive muscle damage and weakness caused by
the inability of skeletal muscle cells to produce dystrophin.
Without dystrophin, muscles become damaged and weakened as they are
used. The muscle cells lose the ability to repair themselves and
are replaced by scar tissue. Individuals with DMD will develop
problems walking and breathing, and eventually, the heart and the
muscles that help them breathe will stop working. DMD primarily
affects males, with 1 in 3500 to 5000 boys born worldwide having
Duchenne. In rare cases, it can also affect females. Duchenne
is an irreversible, progressive disease - there is no cure at
present.
About INmune Bio, Inc.
INmune Bio, Inc. is a
publicly traded (NASDAQ: INMB), clinical-stage biotechnology
company focused on developing treatments that target the innate
immune system to fight disease. INmune Bio has two product
platforms that are both in clinical trials: The Dominant-Negative
Tumor Necrosis Factor (DN-TNF) product platform utilizes
dominant-negative technology to selectively neutralize soluble TNF,
a key driver of innate immune dysfunction and a mechanistic driver
of many diseases. DN-TNF product candidates are in clinical trials
to determine if they can treat cancer (INB03™), Mild Alzheimer’s
disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment and treatment-resistant
depression (XPro™). The Natural Killer Cell Priming Platform
includes INKmune™ developed to prime a patient’s NK cells to
eliminate minimal residual disease in patients with cancer. INmune
Bio’s product platforms utilize a precision medicine approach for
the treatment of a wide variety of hematologic and solid tumor
malignancies, and chronic inflammation. To learn more, please
visit www.inmunebio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Clinical trials are in early stages and there is
no assurance that any specific outcome will be achieved. Any
statements contained in this press release that do not describe
historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that
term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Any statements contained in this press release that do
not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking
statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements
contained herein are based on current expectations but are subject
to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the
timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially
from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result
of these risks and uncertainties. INB03™, XPro1595, and INKmune™
are still in clinical trials or preparing to start clinical trials
and have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) or any regulatory body and there cannot be any assurance that
they will be approved by the FDA or any regulatory body or that any
specific results will be achieved. The factors that could cause
actual future results to differ materially from current
expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and
uncertainties relating to the Company’s ability to produce more
drug for clinical trials; the availability of substantial
additional funding for the Company to continue its operations and
to conduct research and development, clinical studies and future
product commercialization; and, the Company’s business, research,
product development, regulatory approval, marketing and
distribution plans and strategies. These and other factors are
identified and described in more detail in the Company’s filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q and the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K.
The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may
arise after the date of this release.
INmune Bio Contact:
David Moss, CFO(858) 964-3720info@inmunenbio.com
Investor Contact:Jason Nelson, Core IR(516) 842-9614 x-823
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