Immunic, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX), a biotechnology company developing a clinical pipeline of orally administered, small molecule therapies for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, today announced the appointment of Simona Skerjanec, M.Pharm, MBA, a thought-leader in brain health with decades of experience in drug development and commercialization, to its board of directors, effective July 22, 2024.
Over a nearly three-decade career in the United States and internationally, Ms. Skerjanec has led research and development efforts culminating in numerous regulatory drug approvals and successful commercial launches. Most recently, Ms. Skerjanec served as Senior Vice President, Global Head Neuroscience and Rare Diseases at Roche. In this role, she led business and global corporate strategy for Roche’s portfolio of neurological and rare diseases, achieving sustainable double digit growth in sales, including with Ocrevus® (ocrelizumab)*, which remains one of the most successful medicines for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Earlier at Roche, Ms. Skerjanec served as Neuroimmunology Franchise Head, responsible for the commercial launch of Ocrevus®, generating over $1 billion in sales in the first ten months of commercialization. Prior to joining Roche, Ms. Skerjanec held positions of increasing responsibility in development and commercialization at The Medicines Company, Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Ms. Skerjanec also serves on the Board of Directors of Avidity Biosciences.
“We are thrilled to add someone of Simona’s exceptional caliber and expertise to our Board of Directors,” stated Duane Nash, M.D., J.D., M.B.A., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Immunic. “As the company approaches multiple late-stage readouts for vidofludimus calcium in MS over the next two years, we are determined to continue building a strong foundation for potential success. Earlier this month, we were delighted to bring on Jason Tardio, a former Novartis and Biogen executive with extensive MS drug commercialization experience, as Immunic’s new Chief Operating Officer and President. Now with Simona’s entry onto the board, we are proud to augment the company’s growing strength with a board member with such exceptional global leadership experience and who previously led one of the most successful commercial launches in MS history. Simona’s guidance will be invaluable.”
“I am very excited to join the Board of Directors of Immunic and look forward to working closely with the executive management team and the other board members,” added Ms. Skerjanec. “MS remains a devastating disease for many patients and their families. In my view, vidofludimus calcium is a particularly valuable oral drug candidate, with a highly differentiated profile and the potential to transform the treatment landscape and bring longer lasting independence to people with MS. I look forward to working with the team, and hope to help bring such an important molecule to market and achieve commercial success.”
* OCREVUS® is a trademark of Genentech, Inc.
About Immunic, Inc.
Immunic, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX) is a biotechnology company developing a clinical pipeline of orally administered, small molecule therapies for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The company’s lead development program, vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838), is currently in phase 3 and phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis, respectively, and has shown therapeutic activity in phase 2 clinical trials in patients suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, progressive multiple sclerosis and moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. 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, for which it is currently in preparations for a phase 2 clinical trial. IMU-381, which currently is in preclinical testing, is a next generation molecule being developed to specifically address the needs of gastrointestinal diseases. For further information, please visit: www.imux.com.
