AC IMMUNE AND ESSEX BIO-TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCE RESEARCH COLLABORATION FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND NEUROINFLAMMATION
May 22 2017 - 4:37AM
- Powerful synergies in technologies and expertise
- Provides AC Immune with first R&D collaboration in
Asia
Lausanne,
Switzerland, Hong Kong, China, May 22, 2017 - AC Immune SA
(NASDAQ: ACIU), a Swiss-based, clinical stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on neurodegenerative diseases, and Essex
Bio-Technology Limited (HKEX: 1061), specialized in
biopharmaceutical drug development based on recombinant DNA
technology, today announced that they have entered into a research
collaboration agreement to undertake the pre-clinical and clinical
co-development of a novel biological therapeutic for the treatment
of neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation.
Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune,
commented: "This collaboration is especially powerful as it
allows AC Immune and Essex Bio-Technology to combine our respective
technologies and expertise in neurodegeneration and
neuroinflammation - two important therapeutic areas where there
remains a high unmet medical need. This agreement is also important
because it gives AC Immune its first R&D base in Asia with
potential new development opportunities in that region. The
collaboration is a natural progression for our two companies who
know each other very well, Essex Bio-Technology being a significant
shareholder of AC Immune."
Patrick Mia Je Ngiam, Chairman of the Board
of Essex Bio-Technology added: "We are pleased that Essex
Bio-Technology's strategic investment in AC Immune has now taken a
step further into this R&D collaboration. We will leverage our
mutual expertise with the aim to deliver novel solutions in the
specialty areas of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation where
there is an unmet medical need. We are proud to be working
with AC Immune, which is a leader in the understanding of these
disease mechanisms with a pipeline of promising candidates in late
stage clinical trials."
About the R&D collaboration The
initial objective for the collaboration is the development of a
recombinant protein therapeutic candidate acting on a unique
neuroprotective mechanism for treatment of neurological diseases,
such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Essex will
provide joint research commitment as well as financial support to
AC Immune for the pre-IND development of the biological agent. The
two companies will pursue a joint clinical development and
commercial strategy for a potential product. Specific timelines and
financial terms were not disclosed.
About AC ImmuneAC Immune is a clinical stage
Swiss-based biopharmaceutical company focused on neurodegenerative
diseases with four product candidates in clinical trials. The
Company designs, discovers and develops therapeutic and diagnostic
products intended to prevent and modify diseases caused by
misfolding proteins. AC Immune's two proprietary technology
platforms create antibodies, small molecules and vaccines designed
to address a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative indications, such
as Alzheimer's disease. The Company's pipeline features seven
therapeutic and three diagnostic product candidates. The most
advanced of these is crenezumab, an anti-Abeta antibody in phase 3
clinical studies that is being advanced by the collaboration
partner Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Roche. Other
business partners include Biogen, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Nestlé
Institute of Health Sciences, Piramal Imaging and Essex
Bio-Technology.
About Essex Bio-TechnologyEssex
Bio-Technology Limited is a genetic pharmaceutical company which
focuses on recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid ("DNA") technology and
specializes in research and development, manufacturing and sale of
biopharmaceutical products for the healing of surface wounds, organ
wounds and nervous system damages and diseases.
Forward looking statementsThis press
release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical
fact and may include statements that address future operating,
financial or business performance or AC Immune's strategies or
expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by
forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should,"
"expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates,"
"predicts," "projects," "potential," "outlook" or "continue," and
other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based
on management's current expectations and beliefs and involve
significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results, developments and business decisions to differ materially
from those contemplated by these statements. These risks and
uncertainties include those described under the captions "Item 3.
Key Information-Risk Factors" and "Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects" in AC Immune's Annual Report on Form 20-F and
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made,
and AC Immune does not undertake any obligation to update them in
light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except
as may be required under applicable law. All forward-looking
statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement.
For further information please contact:
AC Immune
Prof. Andrea PfeiferChief Executive OfficerPhone: +41-21-345 91
21E-mail:andrea.pfeifer@acimmune.com |
Eva SchierCorporate Communications ManagerPhone: +41-21-345 91
34Mobile: +41 79 926 66 03E-mail: eva.schier@acimmune.com
|
Nick Miles/ Toomas Kull Cabinet Privé de Conseils s.a.Phone :
+41 22 552 46 46E-mail : miles@cpc-pr.com
kull@cpc-pr.com |
In the USTed AgneThe Communications Strategy Group
Inc.Phone: +1 781 631 3117E-mail: edagne@comstratgroup.com
|
Essex Bio-Technology Limited
E-mail: essex@essexbio.com Tel: (852) 2587-7838 Fax: (852)
2587-7363 |
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