AC IMMUNE DISCOVERS NEXT-GENERATION ANTIBODIES FOCUSED ON NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
August 22 2017 - 10:37AM
- Pipeline expansion with new antibodies against alpha-synuclein
and TDP-43
- Proprietary scientific approach rapidly delivers high-quality
assets
- Execution of clear strategy around three pillars
- Alzheimer's disease
- Other significant neurodegenerative and neuro-orphan
indications
- Diagnostics
Lausanne, Switzerland, August 22, 2017 -
AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a Swiss-based, clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company with a broad pipeline focused on
neurodegenerative diseases, today announced it has discovered new
antibodies against two targets in the pathogenesis of
neurodegenerative diseases. Alpha-synuclein is an established
target for Parkinson's disease and other Lewy body diseases, while
TDP-43 is a recently identified target of growing interest for
neuro-orphan indications such as Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration.
More interestingly, both targets also play an important role in
other significant neurodegenerative indications such as Alzheimer's
disease, beyond the established hallmarks of Abeta and Tau. These
next-generation antibodies were discovered using the company's
proprietary SupraAntigen(TM) platform, which has already generated
four products in clinical development, including crenezumab
partnered with Genentech/Roche in Phase 3 for Alzheimer's.
Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune
said: "We are very pleased to move these next-generation antibodies
into our discovery pipeline. They have significant potential for
addressing the underlying pathology of a range of unmet
indications, and reinforce our belief that precision medicine is
critical to delivering effective treatments in Alzheimer's disease
and other neurodegenerative diseases. We are executing a clear
strategy around three pillars: Alzheimer's disease, other
significant neurodegenerative diseases and neuro-orphan
indications, and diagnostics. Our unique combination of scientific
knowledge and assets continues to expand our high-value pipeline of
candidates for both in-house development and partnerships."
Andreas Muhs, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer
of AC Immune, added: "Many neurodegenerative diseases share
their mode-of-action and targets, which provides opportunities for
synergistic development of product candidates. Our common
scientific approach to proteinopathies complemented with
proprietary diagnostics, consistently and rapidly delivers new
high-quality treatments for precision medicine in neurodegenerative
diseases. These two latest antibody programs have unique binding
properties to only the pathological forms of alpha-synuclein and
TDP-43, and we are encouraged by the observations of expert groups
on their potential attributes as novel therapeutics."
Powerful combination of therapeutics and
diagnosticsThe Company believes it will generate additional
value by leveraging its deep understanding and experience in
Alzheimer's disease into other significant and neuro-orphan
indications. Our unique immunotherapy approach addresses and treats
the underlying misfolding of proteinopathies that causes
neurodegenerative diseases, rather than simply treating the
symptoms. Moreover, the company pairs early detection diagnostics
with therapeutic candidates to ensure better clinical trials,
superior patient care and reduced costs in development.
The two antibody discovery programs announced
today use the Company's SupraAntigen(TM) platform. They complement
the R&D collaboration with Biogen (announced April 2016)
comprised of two radiopharmaceutical diagnostic programs to develop
PET-ligands for both alpha-synuclein and TDP-43, using AC Immune's
proprietary Morphomer(TM) chemistry technology platform, designed
to interact with the basic process of protein misfolding.
These latest antibody discovery programs reflect
the growing body of evidence about the benefits of targeting
pathological elements (Brettscheider et al, Nature Reviews 2015)
and the different modelling techniques used to generate specific
binding properties of compounds. AC Immune is collaborating with
various expert groups to elucidate the exact mode of action of the
two next-generation antibodies.
About
alpha-synucleinAlpha-synuclein is a protein expressed
principally in the central nervous system, but is also produced in
other tissues. The pathological form of this protein is a major
component of Lewy bodies, clumps of aggregated protein that are a
cardinal neuropathological feature of Parkinson's disease, dementia
with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. The recently
identified mechanism of spreading of the alpha-synuclein pathology
in neurodegenerative diseases make alpha-synuclein a target for
this antibody program.
About TDP-43TDP-43 (TAR DNA binding
protein 43) is a new target in the area of neurodegenerative
diseases. Misfolded, aggregated TDP-43 is found in diseases as
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD-TDP), chronic traumatic
encephalopathy and Huntington's disease. There is growing body of
evidence that the pathological TDP-43 protein plays an important
role in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's disease. The link of clinical features associated
with Alzheimer's (Josephs et al, Acta Neuropathol., 2014) and the
mechanism of spreading of the pathology make TDP-43 a target for
this antibody program.
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.
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 ImmuneProf. Andrea PfeiferChief Executive OfficerPhone:
+41-21-693 91 21E-mail:andrea.pfeifer@acimmune.com |
Eva SchierCorporate Communications ManagerPhone: +41-21-693
91 34E-mail: eva.schier@acimmune.com |
Nick Miles/Toomas KullCabinet Privé de Conseils s.a.Mobile :
+41 79 678 76 26E-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 |
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