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InflaRx
Founded in 2007 by Niels Riedemann, a physician-scientist who studied the role of the complement system in sepsis, InflaRx emerged from academic research...
InflaRx
Founded in 2007 by Niels Riedemann, a physician-scientist who studied the role of the complement system in sepsis, InflaRx emerged from academic research at Jena University Hospital in Germany. The firm listed on Nasdaq in 2017 and established a US subsidiary in Ann Arbor, Michigan, reflecting the operational split between European discovery and American clinical execution that defines its structure. The company concentrates on anti-C5a monoclonal antibodies, a class of drugs that block the terminal complement pathway without suppressing upstream immune functions needed to fight infections. Its lead asset, vilobelimab (Gohibic), targets C5a and received FDA emergency use authorization for ventilated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome in April 2023. Beyond the pandemic indication, InflaRx is advancing vilobelimab in a Phase III trial for pyoderma gangrenosum, a rare neutrophilic skin disease, and in earlier programs for hidradenitis suppurativa and systemic inflammatory conditions. The pipeline also includes INF904, a small-molecule C5a receptor antagonist that entered Phase I in 2023. InflaRx operates with a lean team centered in Jena and Ann Arbor, supplemented by clinical research organizations. In September 2023, the firm reported that a Phase IIa trial of vilobelimab in pyoderma gangrenosum met its primary endpoint, prompting a subsequent Phase III program launch in early 2024. The firm holds worldwide rights to its core assets, maintaining a capital-efficient model that relies on grant funding and milestone-based development rather than sprawling infrastructure. The firm's structural differentiator is its single-pathway focus on C5a/C5aR blockade — a narrow, deeply researched mechanism shared across a pipeline of both biologic and small-molecule candidates. This concentration means InflaRx carries binary risk on the therapeutic hypothesis but avoids the dilution of a broad immunology platform. The firm is publicly traded, with co-founder Riedemann retaining both the CEO role and lead scientific authority, an arrangement that concentrates strategic control in the hands of the original inventor.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2007
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Germany
City
Jena
Corporate office
Jena, Germany
Additional offices
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Principals
Niels C. Riedemann
Chief Executive Officer
Renfeng Guo
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the core scientific thesis behind InflaRx?
The firm targets the terminal complement protein C5a, a driver of neutrophil-driven inflammation that damages tissue in sepsis, autoimmune diseases, and acute respiratory conditions. By blocking C5a or its receptor, InflaRx aims to interrupt inflammatory tissue destruction without disabling the broader complement system's role in fighting infection. This narrow mechanism distinguishes it from broad immunosuppressants and anti-C5 drugs like eculizumab that act upstream in the complement cascade.
What is the status of vilobelimab following the COVID-19 emergency use authorization?
The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for vilobelimab (Gohibic) in April 2023 for hospitalized adults with COVID-19 requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. InflaRx is pursuing full approval through a Phase III trial while simultaneously advancing vilobelimab in pyoderma gangrenosum, where a Phase IIa trial met its primary endpoint in September 2023. The drug is also being studied in hidradenitis suppurativa and other neutrophilic conditions.
Does InflaRx hold full commercial rights to its pipeline candidates?
Yes. InflaRx retains worldwide rights to vilobelimab and INF904. The firm developed both assets from its own discovery work on C5a biology, and its public filings confirm it has not out-licensed core territories for its lead programs. This full ownership structure gives the firm control over partnership decisions and downstream economics.
How does InflaRx fund its operations?
As a publicly traded clinical-stage biotech, InflaRx funds development through equity offerings, grant awards — including funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research during the pandemic — and milestone-based operational budgeting. The firm does not generate recurring revenue from approved products, so it relies on periodic capital raises to advance its pipeline.
What differentiates InflaRx from other complement-targeting biotechs?
Most complement-focused companies target C5, the protein that splits into C5a and C5b, which shuts down the entire terminal pathway. InflaRx targets only C5a and its receptor, leaving the C5b-dependent membrane attack complex intact. This selectivity aims to preserve anti-microbial defenses while suppressing the inflammatory damage driven specifically by C5a. The firm also has the only pipeline pairing a monoclonal antibody with a small-molecule antagonist against the same pathway.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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