Immunic Inc (NASDAQ:IMUX) Chief Scientific Officer Dr Hella Kohlhof talked with Proactive about the company’s research focus on multiple sclerosis (MS), highlighting how Immunic is aiming to address both the physical and mental health challenges faced by patients.
Kohlhof explained the strong link between MS and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, noting that studies show around 30% of patients experience depression, while 20% experience anxiety.
Proactive: Hello. You're watching Proactive. I'm joined by Immunic Chief Scientific Officer Dr Hella Kohlhof. Hella, very good to speak with you. It's World Mental Health Day today. As Chief Scientific Officer of Immunic, why is it so important for you to speak about mental health, and how do you see it connected to MS, for example?
Dr Hella Kohlhof: Yeah, unfortunately there's a strong connection between mental health and multiple sclerosis. These patients face serious consequences for their day-to-day life, including physical and cognitive disabilities, but also limitations in their social life and psychological consequences. For example, people with MS face a much higher rate of depression and anxiety. A large meta-analysis found that around 30% of patients experience depression and around 20% experience anxiety. These challenges are often invisible to the outside world but have a huge impact on daily life and overall well-being. World Mental Health Day is a reminder to shine a light on them. It’s important to treat MS as more than just a neurological or physical disease. The fear and emotional burden are real. Recognizing mental health as part of MS care can reduce shame, help patients get early support, and improve overall outcomes.
One of the biggest fears of MS patients is losing their independence, and that can have a major impact on mental health. How does Immunic’s research give patients hope that disability can be avoided or delayed?
That's true. Independence is a big topic. Many MS patients fear ending up in a wheelchair or experiencing impairments that lead to a loss of independence. MS is often diagnosed at a young age and affects many women—some just starting careers or planning families. That fear can take a heavy toll on mental health. At Immunic, our research focuses on slowing disease progression, including progression independent of relapse activity, or PIRA. Research shows that PIRA is responsible for at least 50% of disability accumulation in relapsing-remitting MS. We’ve seen positive data on PIRA in our clinical trials, including our Phase 2 EMPhASIS trial with vidofludimus calcium. In the long-term open-label extension phase—up to four years—only a small number of patients experienced PIRA. By targeting smouldering processes early, we aim to help patients maintain functionality and autonomy. Preserving physical abilities also supports mental well-being.
For patients with progressive forms of MS, maintaining mental well-being can be especially challenging given the limited treatment options. How is Immunic working to help change this outlook?
Unfortunately, studies show that over 50% of individuals with primary progressive MS—PPMS—experience depressive symptoms. These patients are especially vulnerable to mental health challenges, and there are currently very few effective treatments. Only one medication is approved for PPMS, so it's understandable that many patients feel hopeless. At Immunic, we are dedicated to addressing unmet needs across all forms of MS. Our research focuses on therapies that target the underlying mechanisms driving disease progression, aiming to slow or halt that progression. Current treatments are effective at preventing relapses, but patients with progressive MS do not experience relapses. Our approach aims to preserve physical function and reduce the mental health burden linked to uncertainty and disability. Recently, our Phase 2 CALLIPER data with vidofludimus calcium in progressive MS read out positively. With this program, we hope to offer these high-need patients a future with more effective treatment options.
Looking ahead, what's your personal vision for the future of MS treatment when it comes to supporting both physical health and mental well-being?
My vision for future MS treatments is one where patients' lives are considered in their entirety—not just physical symptoms. We need effective, safe, tolerable, and easy-to-use treatments for all forms and symptoms of MS. Of course, showing statistically significant improvement in clinical studies is essential for patients and our company. But personally, what motivates me are the stories of individual patients whose lives improve thanks to our medications. On World Mental Health Day, I believe mental health must be integrated into every stage of care—from early diagnosis to ongoing treatment. Ultimately, I want MS research and treatment to give patients hope for a future where they can live fully, maintain autonomy, and thrive both physically and mentally.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and style