Methyl 5 Inosine Monophosphate (MIMP) is an orally active, small molecule drug that preferentially up-regulates cellular immunity by stimulating both macrophages and T cells. MIMP was demonstrated to protect animals against lethal bacterial, viral, and tumor challenges, and to increase prophylactic vaccine effectiveness. In a lethal influenza challenge model, 100% of MIMP treated mice survived. MIMP is thought to have broad applicability in the treatment and prevention of viral diseases, such as influenza and hepatitis.

MIMP is in development as a cellular immune stimulant to be used in combination with the influenza vaccine to increase protection in patients at high-risk of developing influenza-related complications. The viruses that cause influenza undergo slight changes from year to year due to mutations that occur in surface antigens during viral replication (a process referred to as antigenic drift), so that immunity developed from a previous year’s infection or vaccination is at best, only partially protective for the subsequent flu season. In the U.S., influenza accounts for 20,000 deaths annually and 110,000 pneumonia and influenza ("P&I") hospitalizations. More than 90% of these deaths and 44% of P&I hospitalizations occur among persons 65 years or older.

While approved flu vaccines demonstrate efficacy and safety overall, they are not highly effective in the populations most at risk for influenza-related mortality and morbidity, i.e. the elderly and immunocompromised. Studies have shown that the immunologic deficiencies in this group are primarily in the cell-mediated arm (CMI) thus an adjuvant that would specifically boost CMI responses to these vaccines is needed. There are approximately 70 million people in the U.S. at high-risk of influenza related complications.

Optimal cellular immune function is required to achieve immunization and for effective anti-viral therapy. MIMP’s ability to stimulate cellular immunity and restore cellular immune function position it as an ideal potential candidate for the patient at high risk of influenza related complications. This hypothesis is based on pre-clinical data. Clinical studies need to be done to determine if the hypothesis is correct.