Why Immunis, Inc. Could be a Prime Acquisition Target for Big Pharma
My grandfather was kind of a tough guy.
He grew up in Hell’s Kitchen, back when it was called that for a reason.
This son of Romanian immigrants went to school sporadically, but spent most of his early years running errands for amateur fighters and boxing promoters. One of those promoters, according to legend, was the infamous Irish gangster, Owney Madden. I’m not sure if there’s any truth to that, but it sure makes my grandfather’s story a bit more interesting.
In any event, as he got older, he went from running errands for these guys, to sparring with them in the ring. Apparently, there was more money in working as a human punching bag for up-and-coming fighters than there was in getting them booze, cigarettes and newspapers. To be sure, my grandfather was no slouch. He was a short man, but had a mean rear hook. He was unusually strong for his size, too, which served him well in his 20s when he left the world of amateur boxing to earn a less-dangerous living as a dockworker.
Of course, as he aged, his stamina and strength diminished. And this man, who once got paid to fight some of the most savage boxers in New York, eventually found it difficult to do something as simple as walk up a flight of stairs or open a jar of Manzanilla olives, which he ate every morning with fresh tomatoes and a piece of buttered matzah.
Indeed, even the strongest, toughest people can’t escape the harsh reality of losing muscle mass and strength as a result of aging. This condition, also known as Sarcopenia, is actually
one of the few medical conditions that affects 100% of the human population. And there are no FDA-approved pharmaceutical treatments available to slow this loss of muscle or enhance muscle regeneration. Then there’s Sarcopenic Obesity, which is essentially the simultaneous occurrence of muscle loss and obesity. And as described by the Obesity Medicine Association, a condition that presents a double metabolic burden.
Low muscle mass means less efficient use of calories while excess adipose tissue, as we know, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many other health threats. While sarcopenia and obesity each present risks, the combination compounds these.
In addition to diabetes and heart disease, Sarcopenic Obesity can also contribute to high blood pressure, increased risk of falling, and osteoarthritis.
The combined market value for these conditions is roughly $600 billion a year. So you can imagine that an effective, FDA-approved treatment for Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity would be absolutely game-changing: for both patients and any company that can bring such a treatment to market. One in particular that’s showing tremendous promise is Immunis, Inc.
Immunis is a clinical-stage biotech company developing treatments designed to eliminate the effects of age and immune-related diseases - one of which is directly related to Sarcopenic Obesity.
Earlier this year, Immunis initiated treatment in several patients with Sarcopenic Obesity as a part of its Phase 2 clinical trial, which assessed the safety and tolerability of its investigational therapy, IMM01-STEM. Phase 2 data indicated that IMM01-STEM is successful in restoring muscle strength, functionality and healthier body composition. This is a very big deal.
Overall, the company’s therapies target massive patient populations that benefit from losing fat while gaining muscle and improved metabolism/immunity. Immunis also boasts an impressive pipeline of treatments for neurodegeneration and cognition-related indications.
The CEO of Immunis, Dr. Hans Keirstead, already has a tremendously successful track record. An internationally recognized stem cell expert and successful entrepreneur, each of Dr. Keirstead’s three previous biotech firms were acquired, generating 2.5x - 9.5x returns for investors.
With Immunis’ encouraging early clinical trial data coupled with Dr. Keirstead holding the reins, we’re reasonably optimistic that the company could become a very attractive acquisition target for Big Pharma.
If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Keirstead, as well as the groundbreaking technology Immunis has developed, I highly recommend watching this short video.
