Inimmune

About Inimmune

Based in Missoula, Montana, Inimmune is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing immunotherapies to treat and prevent cancer, allergies, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. The company was founded in 2016 by a team of experienced pharmaceutical industry veterans, including Drs. Jay Evans, David Burkhart, Helene Bazin-Lee, and Kendal Ryter, along with 11 other scientists, many of whom previously worked together at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). This founding team brought extensive expertise in synthetic chemistry, immunology, and drug formulation, with a track record of developing immunomodulators.

Inimmune's core business revolves around the discovery and development of novel innate immune agonists and antagonists, particularly Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. These compounds are designed to modulate the human immune system to fight diseases. The company's business model involves advancing its proprietary drug candidates through clinical trials and forming strategic partnerships with other biotech companies and universities to co-develop and commercialize its technologies. Revenue is generated through research grants, collaboration agreements, and licensing deals for its adjuvant systems. For example, Inimmune has a significant partnership with SPI Pharma to commercialize and distribute its advanced vaccine adjuvant systems globally.

The company's product pipeline includes several clinical-stage assets. INI-2004, a TLR4 agonist, has completed a Phase I clinical trial for treating allergic rhinitis. Another key candidate, INI-4001, a TLR7/8 agonist, is in Phase I trials for treating solid tumors, both as a monotherapy and in combination with existing checkpoint inhibitors. Beyond these, Inimmune is developing a portfolio of vaccine adjuvants, which are compounds that enhance the effectiveness of vaccines. These adjuvants are being developed for various applications, including universal flu vaccines and vaccines against opioids and pertussis, in collaboration with institutions like the Cleveland Clinic and Columbia University. In January 2024, Inimmune announced a collaboration with Intrommune Therapeutics to develop a novel oral mucosal immunotherapy for peanut allergies. The company has also partnered with Insilico Medicine to leverage artificial intelligence for accelerating the discovery of new immunotherapeutics.

Since its inception, Inimmune has secured significant funding to advance its research. The company has raised over $12 million in research grants and contracts, including from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A major milestone was achieved in July 2020 when Inimmune closed a $22 million Series A funding round led by Two Bear Capital, the largest such investment in Montana's history at the time. This funding was designated to move at least two preclinical drug candidates into Phase I human trials. The company is headquartered at the Montana Technology Enterprise Center (MonTEC), fostering a close relationship with the University of Montana.