Corimmun

Corimmun GmbH, a German biopharmaceutical company, was established in 2006 as a spin-off from the Universities of Würzburg and Tübingen. Founded by a group of university professors, including Götz Münch who also served as CEO, the firm focused on developing novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases by targeting inflammatory mechanisms. The company's business model was centered on the research and development of drug candidates to address significant unmet needs in heart and vascular conditions.

The firm's primary asset was COR-1, a cyclic peptide designed for the personalized treatment of heart failure. This drug works by neutralizing auto-antibodies that target the β1-adrenergic receptor, which are believed to propagate heart failure. Preclinical studies in animal models demonstrated that COR-1 could improve heart function and reverse cardiac dysfunction. Following a successful Phase I clinical trial that showed the drug was safe and well-tolerated, Corimmun initiated a Phase II trial in 2011 to establish proof of concept in patients.

Corimmun's progress attracted significant attention from the pharmaceutical industry. In June 2012, while the Phase II trial was still underway, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, acquired Corimmun. The deal included an upfront payment and a future milestone payment, with Janssen assuming full responsibility for the global development and commercialization of COR-1. However, Janssen later halted the development of COR-1 and, in 2013, returned the rights to the compound to the University of Würzburg.

Keywords: Corimmun, biopharmaceutical, drug development, cardiovascular diseases, heart failure, COR-1, cyclic peptide, Janssen acquisition, university spin-off, β1-adrenergic receptor, auto-antibodies, clinical trials, Götz Münch, Martinsried, personalized medicine, cardiac dysfunction, inflammatory mechanisms, therapeutics, vascular diseases, autoimmune cardiomyopathy