Innovative Collaboration To Increase Awareness Of Bullous Pemphigoid, A Rare Autoimmune Disease Of The Skin

NEW YORK, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyfebulb, the International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF) and Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQX and NASDAQ OMX First North Premier, Stockholm: "IMNP."; "Immune" or "the Company"), announced a collaboration to increase awareness of unmet needs in treating bullous pemphigoid last night at an event attended by more than sixty patients, physicians, scientists and other interested parties. Lyfebulb is a health and wellness company dedicated to serving the needs of chronic disease patient communities by raising awareness of unmet needs, and supporting healthy lifestyles and therapy that lead to successful disease management. The IPPF is the leading support and education foundation for patients and family members from around the world affected by pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid - two devastating autoimmune diseases affecting the skin and mucous membranes. The event and collaboration are supported in part by Immune, a public biotech company with a clinical program in bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare, potentially life threatening autoimmune disease where painful blisters develop on the skin, eyes, mouth, and throat. Each year, BP affects over 30,000 patients in the United States and Europe. Typically, patients are over 65 years old and their immediate support system may include their adult children. The disease is treated by a small group of specialists in dermatology and oral medicine.  

"BP is a severe and disabling disease that we struggle to manage with the therapies we have available to us today," said Neil Korman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Dermatology at Case Western School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, who was the keynote speaker at the event. "It is a common misperception that we have good therapeutic options; nothing could be further from the truth. Based on personal clinical experience, and according to IPPF, approximately 70% of patients suffer severe limitations due to the toxicities of our current therapeutic options - most notably high dose steroids. I am encouraged to see the progress of new therapeutic options for my patients, and I hope that this promising collaboration will increase the awareness of the tremendous need for improved therapy to help families afflicted by BP."

According to Karin Hehenberger, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Immune and the founder of Lyfebulb, "the objective of our collaboration will be to work together, along with key opinion leaders in the field, to improve disease specific awareness among the medical scientific community, the general public, and regulatory authorities worldwide through events, social media, and other channels. We believe that awareness and understanding will help pave the way for dramatic improvements in therapy."

Badri Rengarajan, M.D., President of IPPF commented that "our mission at IPPF is to bring an end to this devastating disease. Many of us at IPPF have family members who suffer every day from the lack of adequate therapy. We are encouraged by the successes in other rare diseases recently, and are optimistic this success can be replicated in BP. It all starts with creating awareness of the significant, unmet need in order to attract more researchers, industry investment and other financial support toward this important goal. We are very pleased to be a part of this important collaboration."

About Lyfebulb

Lyfebulb was founded in 2014 by Karin Hehenberger M.D., Ph.D., with a mission of helping those living with a chronic disease lead an optimal lifestyle. Through an online platform and offline events, Lyfebulb connects, educates, and inspires individuals living with chronic illnesses. The Lyfebulb Social Club is a monthly series of meetings bringing together thought leaders, patients, experts and renowned professionals in an informative and relaxed environment.

For more information, please visit www.lyfebulb.com.

About International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation

The International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF) provides support, advocacy, awareness, and education to those affected by the rare, autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBD) pemphigus and pemphigoid. Since 1994, the IPPF has helped thousands of patients, caregivers, and medical professionals by reducing diagnostic delays in increasing P/P awareness and knowledge. For more information on the IPPF, call (855) 4-PEMPHIGUS, (916) 922-1298, or visit us online at www.pemphigus.org

About Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc. applies a personalized approach to treatment, developing novel, highly targeted antibody therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with inflammatory diseases and cancer.  The Company's lead product candidate, Bertilimumab, is in clinical development for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease as well as bullous pemphigoid, an orphan autoimmune dermatological condition. Immune licensed worldwide rights for systemic indications of Bertilimumab from iCo Therapeutics (TSX: ICO; OTCQX: ICOTF) in June 2011, while iCo retained rights to all ophthalmic indications. iCo originally licensed the exclusive worldwide rights to Bertilimumab in 2006 from MedImmune, the Global Research and Development Arm of AstraZeneca.  Immune's pipeline also includes NanomAbs®, antibody nanoparticle conjugates, for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics., Crolibulin, a small molecule in Phase 2 in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and AmiKet™, a Neuropathic Pain drug candidate ready for Phase 3. AmiKet™ has received Orphan Drug Designation for Post Herpetic Neuralgia.

For more information, visit Immune's website at www.immunepharmaceuticals.com, the content of which is not a part of this press release.

Erik Penser Bankaktiebolag is engaged as Immune´s Certified Adviser on NASDAQ OMX First North Premier.

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SOURCE Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc.