NEW YORK, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyfebulb, the
International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF) and Immune
Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQX and NASDAQ OMX First North Premier,
Stockholm: "IMNP."; "Immune" or
"the Company"), announced a collaboration to increase awareness of
unmet needs in treating bullous pemphigoid last night at an event
attended by more than sixty patients, physicians, scientists and
other interested parties. Lyfebulb is a health and wellness company
dedicated to serving the needs of chronic disease patient
communities by raising awareness of unmet needs, and supporting
healthy lifestyles and therapy that lead to successful disease
management. The IPPF is the leading support and education
foundation for patients and family members from around the world
affected by pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid - two
devastating autoimmune diseases affecting the skin and mucous
membranes. The event and collaboration are supported in part by
Immune, a public biotech company with a clinical program in bullous
pemphigoid.
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare, potentially life threatening
autoimmune disease where painful blisters develop on the skin,
eyes, mouth, and throat. Each year, BP affects over 30,000 patients
in the United States and
Europe. Typically, patients are
over 65 years old and their immediate support system may include
their adult children. The disease is treated by a small group of
specialists in dermatology and oral medicine.
"BP is a severe and disabling disease that we struggle to
manage with the therapies we have available to us today," said
Neil Korman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor
of Dermatology at Case Western School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, who was the keynote speaker
at the event. "It is a common misperception that we have good
therapeutic options; nothing could be further from the truth. Based
on personal clinical experience, and according to IPPF,
approximately 70% of patients suffer severe limitations due to the
toxicities of our current therapeutic options - most notably high
dose steroids. I am encouraged to see the progress of new
therapeutic options for my patients, and I hope that this promising
collaboration will increase the awareness of the tremendous need
for improved therapy to help families afflicted by BP."
According to Karin Hehenberger,
M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Immune and the founder of
Lyfebulb, "the objective of our collaboration will be to work
together, along with key opinion leaders in the field, to improve
disease specific awareness among the medical scientific community,
the general public, and regulatory authorities worldwide through
events, social media, and other channels. We believe that awareness
and understanding will help pave the way for dramatic improvements
in therapy."
Badri Rengarajan, M.D., President
of IPPF commented that "our mission at IPPF is to bring an end
to this devastating disease. Many of us at IPPF have family members
who suffer every day from the lack of adequate therapy. We are
encouraged by the successes in other rare diseases recently, and
are optimistic this success can be replicated in BP. It all starts
with creating awareness of the significant, unmet need in order to
attract more researchers, industry investment and other financial
support toward this important goal. We are very pleased to be a
part of this important collaboration."
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb was founded in 2014 by Karin
Hehenberger M.D., Ph.D., with a mission of helping those
living with a chronic disease lead an optimal lifestyle. Through an
online platform and offline events, Lyfebulb connects, educates,
and inspires individuals living with chronic illnesses. The
Lyfebulb Social Club is a monthly series of meetings bringing
together thought leaders, patients, experts and renowned
professionals in an informative and relaxed environment.
For more information, please visit www.lyfebulb.com.
About International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid
Foundation
The International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF)
provides support, advocacy, awareness, and education to those
affected by the rare, autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBD)
pemphigus and pemphigoid. Since 1994, the IPPF has helped thousands
of patients, caregivers, and medical professionals by reducing
diagnostic delays in increasing P/P awareness and knowledge. For
more information on the IPPF, call (855) 4-PEMPHIGUS, (916)
922-1298, or visit us online at www.pemphigus.org
About Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc. applies a personalized approach to
treatment, developing novel, highly targeted antibody therapeutics
to improve the lives of patients with inflammatory diseases and
cancer. The Company's lead product candidate, Bertilimumab,
is in clinical development for moderate to severe ulcerative
colitis and Crohn's Disease as well as bullous pemphigoid, an
orphan autoimmune dermatological condition. Immune licensed
worldwide rights for systemic indications of Bertilimumab from iCo
Therapeutics (TSX: ICO; OTCQX: ICOTF) in June 2011, while iCo retained rights to all
ophthalmic indications. iCo originally licensed the exclusive
worldwide rights to Bertilimumab in 2006 from MedImmune, the Global
Research and Development Arm of AstraZeneca. Immune's
pipeline also includes NanomAbs®, antibody nanoparticle conjugates,
for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics., Crolibulin, a
small molecule in Phase 2 in collaboration with the National Cancer
Institute and AmiKet™, a Neuropathic Pain drug candidate ready for
Phase 3. AmiKet™ has received Orphan Drug Designation for Post
Herpetic Neuralgia.
For more information, visit Immune's website at
www.immunepharmaceuticals.com, the content of which is not a part
of this press release.
Erik Penser Bankaktiebolag is engaged as Immune´s Certified
Adviser on NASDAQ OMX First North Premier.
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SOURCE Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc.