Immunic Appoints Accomplished Biopharmaceutical Executive Michael A. Panzara, M.D., M.P.H., as Chief Medical Officer
Immunic Appoints Accomplished Biopharmaceutical Executive Michael A. Panzara, M.D., M.P.H., as Chief Medical Officer |
| [28-April-2026] |
– Proven Leader in Neurology Drug Development, Including for Several Approved Multiple – Strong Experience in Advancing Late-Stage Clinical Programs and Obtaining Global Regulatory Approvals, Key to Supporting Vidofludimus Calcium Through Pivotal Development – NEW YORK, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Immunic, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMUX), a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of novel oral therapies for neurologic diseases, today announced the appointment of Michael A. Panzara, M.D., M.P.H., as Chief Medical Officer, effective April 24, 2026. Dr. Panzara will lead the company's development organization, including clinical development, medical affairs, and regulatory affairs, and will be a critical partner to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors in defining and driving the overall company strategy. Dr. Panzara succeeds Andreas Muehler, M.D., M.B.A.. "Mike is a globally renowned biopharmaceutical executive and drug developer with deep expertise in neurology and proven leadership in advancing transformational therapies through development and the regulatory approval process," stated Daniel Vitt, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Immunic. "Notably, during his tenure at Sanofi Genzyme, Mike oversaw the global regulatory approvals of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs LEMTRADA® and AUBAGIO®. During his time at Biogen, he served as global clinical lead for the development of TYSABRI® and managed their late-stage portfolio of MS products. His depth of experience will be invaluable as we advance vidofludimus calcium through the pivotal clinical readout of our phase 3 ENSURE trials in relapsing MS, and toward potential regulatory approval and commercialization in this indication. His leadership will support the company strategy as we continue our transition into a fully integrated commercial-stage company." "This is a critically important time in Immunic's evolution and I am excited to be joining the company at such a pivotal inflection point," said Dr. Panzara. "Vidofludimus calcium's potential to treat MS by targeting both immunological and neuroprotective pathways holds promise to redefine the treatment landscape and meaningfully impact the lives of so many people who continue to struggle with their MS. I look forward to building upon the team's successes to further advance Immunic's clinical programs, including the phase 3 ENSURE trials and the planned phase 3 trial of vidofludimus calcium in primary progressive MS." Dr. Panzara brings over 25 years of global neurology experience to Immunic. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Neurvati Neurosciences, Inc., where he built a Development Organization to support the creation of sub-companies focused on advancing therapeutic candidates in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This included serving as Chief Medical Officer of Neurvati's first sub-company, GRIN Therapeutics, overseeing development of radiprodil, a negative allosteric modulator targeting the NMDA receptor as a potential treatment for rare genetically defined neurodevelopmental disorders. Prior to Neurvati, Dr. Panzara served as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Therapeutics Discovery and Development at Wave Life Sciences Ltd., after initially joining the company as Franchise Lead, Neurology, where he oversaw Wave's therapeutic research and development portfolio with a focus on genetically-defined neurological diseases. Earlier, he served as the Head of the Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology and Ophthalmology Therapeutic Area for Global Development at Sanofi Genzyme, where he oversaw global regulatory approvals of the MS drugs LEMTRADA® (alemtuzumab) and AUBAGIO® (teriflunomide) and was responsible for development strategy and oversight within these therapeutic areas. Prior to joining Sanofi Genzyme, Dr. Panzara was Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Neurology at Biogen. During his time there, he served as the global clinical lead for the development of TYSABRI® (natalizumab) for MS, overseeing its clinical program and global approvals, and managed clinical development activities for all late-stage MS products, including AVONEX® (interferon beta-1a), PLEGRIDY® (PEG-interferon beta-1a), and TECFIDERA® (dimethyl fumarate). He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of LeonaBio, Inc. and Cadenza Bio, Inc.. Dr. Panzara received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his neurology training at Massachusetts General Hospital and conducted postdoctoral training in immunology and rheumatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He also holds a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Vitt added, "On behalf of the entire team, I would like to sincerely thank Andreas for his leadership and invaluable contributions as Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Immunic. It is due in large part to his expertise and stewardship that vidofludimus calcium has advanced successfully into late-stage clinical development. That said, we are delighted that he will continue to support the company as a consultant during this key phase for Immunic and our evolution into a fully-fledged commercial company." "It has been a true privilege to serve as Chief Medical Officer of Immunic for the past 10 years," said Dr. Muehler. "During this time, I had the opportunity to build and grow the clinical development organization and advance the company's development pipeline. Most notably, we progressed vidofludimus calcium from the preclinical stage into late-stage clinical development, achieving clinical proof-of-concept in both relapsing and progressive MS, and are now just months away from the pivotal phase 3 readout in relapsing MS. This journey has truly been a team effort. I have been fortunate to work alongside an exceptional group of colleagues, whose dedication and expertise made these achievements possible. I am delighted to pass the baton to Dr. Panzara, whose extensive medical, clinical and regulatory background makes him ideally suited to guide vidofludimus calcium into its next chapter. I am immensely proud of what our team has accomplished and remain highly confident in Immunic's potential to make a meaningful impact in the MS space by delivering a unique and innovative new therapeutic option for patients living with this devastating disease." The Compensation Committee of Immunic's Board of Directors granted Dr. Panzara an initial equity option to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock of the company under the Immunic, Inc. 2026 Inducement Equity Compensation Plan (the "Options"). The Options were granted as an inducement material to Dr. Panzara's commencement of employment pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The Options will be time vested, with one half vesting on the one-year anniversary of April 24, 2026 and one half vesting in equal monthly installments over a period of twenty-four (24) months following the first anniversary of April 24, 2026. About Immunic, Inc. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Contact Information Immunic, Inc. US IR Contact US Media Contact
SOURCE Immunic, Inc. | ||
Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:IMUX |
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