Immunic's IMU-856 Shows Promise in Celiac Disease Patients

Immunic, Inc. has announced that its oral small molecule, IMU-856, demonstrated promising results in increasing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels in celiac disease patients during a Phase 1b clinical trial. The data suggests that IMU-856 may offer a new oral treatment for weight management, showcasing a dose-dependent rise in GLP-1 levels and decreased body weight gain in preclinical studies.

IMU-856 targets SIRT6, highly expressed in bowel wall cells responsible for gastrointestinal hormones production. The trial indicated the molecule's potential to regenerate epithelial cells and activate enteroendocrine cell functions. The study observed an up to 250% increase in GLP-1 levels, significantly higher than the typical post-meal rise in healthy individuals.

The company is gearing for Phase 2 trials, aiming to leverage these findings into a viable treatment for obesity, a market projected to exceed $170 billion by 2031 globally.