Inimmune is part of a European consortium, led by the Medical University of Vienna, whose goal is to develop a next-generation vaccine against influenza strains with pandemic potential
The consortium aims to be selected under the European Commission’s EU4Health programme
Girona, Spain — 24 November 2025 — – Inimmune, a leading clinical stage biotech company focused on the development of novel vaccine adjuvants, immunotherapies and delivery systems, announced today they are participating in a pioneering European project that seeks to transform the way we protect ourselves against influenza. The initiative, coordinated by the Medical University of Vienna, aims to develop a next-generation intranasal vaccine capable of providing broader and longer-lasting protection, not only against seasonal influenza strains but also against strains with pandemic potential. The consortium has submitted its proposal to HaDEA (European Health and Digital Executive Agency) and is seeking to be selected under the European Commission’s EU4Health programme.
Inimmune brings over 20 years of vaccine development experience to the program and contributes their proprietary vaccine adjuvant INI-4001 which enhances the vaccine efficacy. Specifically, Inimmune will lead the creation of the optimized mucoadhesive intranasal formulation, support preclinical studies, prepare formulations for GLP toxicology and future clinical manufacturing by providing scalable adjuvant production and formulation expertise, critical components enabling the vaccine’s safety, stability, and immunogenicity.
Influenza remains one of the leading threats to public health worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it causes between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths every year due to respiratory complications[1]. In addition, influenza viruses are constantly changing, which requires vaccines to be updated annually and can reduce their effectiveness. These characteristics, combined with vaccination fatigue among the population, highlight the need for more effective, longer-lasting vaccines with less invasive administration routes.
A vaccine designed to increase acceptance and curb transmission
The vaccine candidate proposed by the consortium will use a pioneering strategy based on one of the main surface proteins of the influenza virus, which in turn is one of the most conserved. The vaccine will facilitate the work of healthcare professionals, and it is intended to stimulate a stronger local immune response in the respiratory mucosa
Contributing to Europe’s objective of strategic autonomy in public health
This project contributes to the European Union’s strategic health objectives, particularly in the areas of health security and preparedness for potential pandemics. It will provide an innovative solution that combines advanced scientific design, European industrial production, and a model of exemplary public–private collaboration. The vaccine, which is intended to be stable between 2 and 8 °C, will be designed for rapid and large-scale deployment, reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy and reducing dependence on non-EU manufacturers in health emergency situations.
With this project, Inimmune reaffirms its commitment to innovation in human health and its role as a key partner in building a future better prepared to face infectious threats.
Current status and next steps
The consortium is currently awaiting the resolution from HaDEA, to whom the project proposal was submitted under the EU4Health programme. Since the first three specific contracts are planned to be signed in 2025, it is expected that the European Commission will announce the tenderers selected for the first phase of a total length of 98 months by the end of the year. The indicative budget amounts to EUR 147,951,410, which represents the indicative ceiling for each of the framework contracts to be signed.
A European collaboration integrating academia, cutting-edge research, and vaccine manufacturing expertise
Coordinated by the Medical University of Vienna (Austria), the project leverages HIPRA’s industrial leadership and vaccine R&D expertise. The University of Bergen (Norway) leads the phase I clinical trial, while Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) provides mucosal immunology analysis. The University of Boku (Austria) specializes in purification processes, Inimmune
(USA) contributes its proprietary adjuvant (INI-4001) and extensive formulation expertise, and Mount Sinai Hospital (USA) adds expertise in vaccine design.
Together, these complementary strengths make the consortium uniquely equipped to develop innovative intranasal influenza vaccines.
[1] World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)
About Inimmune Corporation
Inimmune Corp. (Missoula, MT) is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative immunotherapeutics, vaccine adjuvants, and vaccines. Inimmune is harnessing the human immune system to create safe and effective treatments for allergy, infectious disease, autoimmunity, and cancer. Their laboratories and offices are housed in the Montana Technology Enterprise Center (MonTEC) in Missoula. For more information on Inimmune’s research and development of novel vaccine adjuvants, immunotherapeutics and delivery systems, please visit www.inimmune.com.
Media Contact:
Inimmune Corporation
Phone: (406)-541-5913
Email: info@inimmune.com
