Immunis Secures Exclusive License for Novel Parkinson's Dyskinesia Treatment KORA
Key Insights
Immunis (search) has entered an exclusive licensing agreement with Toray (search) to develop IMM02-KORA (search) for treating dyskinesia (search) associated with Parkinson's disease (search) in major markets including the US, Canada, and EU.
The company has submitted an IND application to the FDA to initiate Phase I clinical trials, with preclinical data showing KORA (search) effectively reduces L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (search) symptoms in rat models.
An estimated 80% of Parkinson's patients receiving standard care develop dyskinesia (search) within 10 years, severely impacting daily activities and increasing fall risk and social isolation.
Clinical-stage biotech company Immunis (search) has secured exclusive licensing rights from Toray (search) to develop and commercialize a novel drug candidate for treating dyskinesia (search) associated with Parkinson's disease (search). The treatment, designated IMM02-KORA (search) or "KORA (search)," represents a significant addition to Immunis' pipeline targeting age-related diseases.
Under the licensing agreement announced March 5, 2026, Immunis (search) obtained exclusive development and commercialization rights for KORA (search) across the United States, Canada, the European Union, and the European Free Trade Association. The company has already submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate Phase I clinical trials.
Preclinical Evidence Supports Clinical Development
Published preclinical data demonstrate that KORA (search) effectively reduces L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (search) symptoms in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (search), providing scientific foundation for Immunis (search)' clinical development strategy. These findings support the therapeutic potential of KORA in addressing a significant unmet medical need in Parkinson's disease management.
Addressing a Growing Medical Challenge
The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (search) has doubled within the past 25 years according to the World Health Organization, with The Global Burden of Disease estimating that 1.3 million people receive new Parkinson's disease diagnoses annually. This growing patient population faces a particularly challenging complication: an estimated 80% of individuals with Parkinson's disease receiving current standard of care will develop dyskinesia (search) within 10 years.
Dyskinesia (search) severely impacts patients' quality of life, affecting fundamental daily activities such as writing, eating, and dressing. The condition also increases the risk of falls and can lead to social isolation, creating additional burdens for patients and their families.
Strategic Pipeline Expansion
"Immunis (search) is thrilled to expand our research pipeline to include a common and serious complication affecting Parkinson's disease (search) patients," said Mark Cabato, Chief Business Officer at Immunis. "Our collaboration with Toray (search) reflects our continued commitment to maximizing healthspan and minimizing disease through the advancement of transformative medicine."
The licensing agreement with Toray (search), a global leader in advanced materials innovation with more than 300 affiliated companies and approximately 48,000 employees worldwide, represents a strategic partnership for Immunis (search) as the company advances its mission to develop treatments for age-related diseases.
Clinical Development Path Forward
With the IND application submitted to the FDA, Immunis (search) is positioned to begin Phase I clinical trials for KORA (search), marking a crucial step in translating the promising preclinical results into potential therapeutic benefits for patients. The exclusive licensing arrangement provides Immunis with broad geographic rights to develop and commercialize KORA across major pharmaceutical markets, positioning the company to address the significant and growing need for effective dyskinesia (search) treatments in Parkinson's disease (search).