Hella Kohlhof
Immunic Therapeutics AG, Germany
Title: Development of IMU-838, an orally available and selective small molecule inhibitor for the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
Biography
Biography: Hella Kohlhof
Abstract
IMU-838 is an orally available small molecule inhibitor of Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (DHODH). It is currently in placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical testing in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. Further clinical trials are planned in Crohn’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. DHODH is the key enzyme for de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Activation of DHODH ensures immediate and increased nucleotide supply for RNA and DNA synthesis, when the salvage pathway for pyrimidine synthesis is not sufficient. Pyrimidine de novo synthesis and DHODH activity is only important in metabolically activated cells, e.g. autoreactive immune cells. Therefore, this small molecule inhibitor targeting DHODH is per se selective on overreacting immune cells but is not immunosuppressive in general. This is a huge advantage for the long-term treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases like Multiple Sclerosis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs often causes reactivation of latent viruses leading to serious infections and with sometimes even lethal outcome. With IMU-838, Immunic Therapeutics develops a potent and safe oral drug with a unique mode of action for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.