Two executives with deep understanding of the immunology field, and with experience in the IMU-838/IMU-366 development programs add to the Management Board of Immunic AG – experienced biotech CFO is strengthening Immunic’s Supervisory Board
- Daniel Vitt joins Immunic as Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Hella Kohlhof joins Immunic as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
- Thomas Taapken joins Immunic’s Supervisory Board
Planegg-Martinsried, Germany, January 9, 2017 – Immunic AG (Immunic), a biotech company in Planegg-Martinsried near Munich, Germany, today announced that two former executives of 4SC AG, a publicly listed German biotech company, have joined the management team of Immunic AG and strengthen the capabilities of Immunic to execute its IMU-838 and IMU-366 development programs. Daniel Vitt and Hella Kohlhof have had intimate involvement in the previous development activities in both drug development programs. They also bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of treatment of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases with high unmet medical need. In addition, Dr. Thomas Taapken will join Immunic’s Supervisory Board. Currently, Thomas Taapken is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Medigene AG, a publicly listed clinical-stage biotech company in Munich.
As of January 1st, Dr. Daniel Vitt was appointed as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Immunic AG. Prior to this position, he was Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Development Officer at 4SC AG, a publically listed German biotech company which he co-founded in 1997. In this position, over the last years, he was a driving force behind the preclinical and clinical development of the IMU-838 development program, which together with the IMU-366 project, was acquired by Immunic in 2016. Daniel Vitt received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Würzburg, Germany.
In addition, Immunic has appointed Dr. Hella Kohlhof as new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) as of January 1st 2017. Hella Kohlhof received her PhD in molecular biology from the University of Munich, Germany. Over the last years, she has served as Manager Translational Pharmacology and later on as Director Development Products at 4SC AG. She was closely involved in non-clinical evaluation of epigenetic drugs including RORγt inhibitors, what is now the IMU-366 program at Immunic. Later on she was responsible for the clinical stage programs at 4SC AG.
“I’m very excited to be joining Immunic as CEO and to be part of this company with two unique development products. I believe in IMU-838 to be a major therapeutic step for treatment of IBD and IMU-366 a potential best in class RORγt inhibitor”, states Daniel Vitt, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Immunic.
Effective January 1st, Dr. Thomas Taapken, was elected to the Supervisory Board of Immunic. Thomas Taapken recently joined Munich based publicly traded Medigene AG as CFO and will add significant biotech experience, financing and strategic transaction expertise to Immunic’s supervisory board. Before his engagement at Medigene, Thomas was CEO and CFO at Epigenomics AG for over five years and CFO at BioTie Corp. (now Acorda Therapeutics) and its predecessor companies for six years.
“We are delighted that Daniel Vitt and Hella Kohlhof will substantially strengthen Immunics management team and Immunic to have the experience and expertise to execute our strategy”, says Dr. Jörg Neermann, partner at LSP and chairman of Immunic’s Supervisory Board. He also added “I’m very happy to have Thomas Taapken – a renowned and experienced biotech executive – joining Immunic’s supervisory board and broadening the company’s strategic transaction expertise.”
– Press release ends –
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Further information
About Immunic
Immunic AG is a start-up biotech company founded in April 2016 and focused on the development of immune modulators to block TH17- and TH1-mediated immune and autoimmune responses. The company’s two development programs include orally available, small molecule inhibitors of DHODH (IMU-838 program) and RORγt (IMU-366 program) relevant to diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis. The final aim is to develop these drug candidates to clinical proof of concept. Immunic, with headquarters in Planegg-Martinsried near Munich, Germany, is privately held and supported by several renowned sector investors.
Contact:
Daniel Vitt,
Immunic AG
Am Klopferspitz 19
82152 Planegg-Martinsried
T: +49 89 2500 79460
info@immunic.de
www.immunic.de
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