Immunic Inc. has obtained the sole global rights to commercialize Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.'s intestinal disease treatment IMU-856.

Immunic's subsidiary Immunic AG exercised an option in its licensing agreement with Daiichi to receive rights to the oral therapy, which regulates DNA to RNA in the intestine. The drug aims to restore the intestinal barrier, which keeps potentially harmful bacteria separated in its own space, while maintaining the body's normal immune response.

As part of the agreement, Immunic will pay an up-front licensing fee to Daiichi Sankyo, which is also is eligible to receive performance-based milestone payments in the future and royalties on the sale of IMU-856.

Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Immunic intends to start IMU-856's phase 1 clinical trials in the first half of this year.