AC Immune and WuXi Biologics to Establish an Exclusive Strategic Partnership
December 19 2018 - 6:31AM
- AC Immune to draw on WuXi Biologics' expertise in
manufacturing innovative New Biological Entities against CNS
disorders including proprietary WuXiUP continuous manufacturing
platform that can significantly reduce cost of biologics
- AC Immune to gain access to WuXi Biologics' proprietary
discovery platforms including the WuXiBody(TM) Platform used for
the generation of bispecific antibodies
- WuXi Biologics to become a preferred partner for bioprocess
development and manufacturing
Lausanne, Switzerland and Shanghai,
China, December 19, 2018 - AC Immune SA (NASDAQ:
ACIU), a Swiss-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with
a broad pipeline focused on neurodegenerative diseases and WuXi
Biologics (2269.HK), a leading global open-access biologics
technology platform company offering end-to-end solutions for
biologics discovery, development and manufacturing, today announced
the first steps of an exclusive strategic collaboration that covers
biologics discovery, development and manufacturing.
AC Immune and WuXi Biologics have entered into a
memorandum of understanding governing the terms of a preferred
partnership allowing AC Immune to leverage WuXi Biologics'
capacities and capabilities in the manufacturing and supply of
traditional and innovative New Biological Entities (NBE) against
disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Through this
collaboration, AC Immune would have priority access to WuXi
Biologics' proprietary platforms, including the bispecific antibody
platform WuXiBody(TM) and WuXiUP continuous manufacturing platform.
In addition, WuXi Biologics would become a preferred
partner of AC Immune for bioprocess development, as well as
manufacturing for discovery, pre-clinical and clinical supply of AC
Immune's NBE pipeline.
Under the same agreement, the companies would
explore the use of AC Immune's platform to treat non-CNS diseases
by identifying areas where AC Immune's antibody discovery platform
could generate superior novel candidates. In addition, WuXi
Vaccines, the vaccine arm of WuXi Biologics, would explore enabling
the application of AC Immune's vaccine portfolio in China.
Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune
SA, commented: "I am very happy to work with WuXi Biologics and
proud to form the basis for a partnership with such an esteemed
partner in China. AC Immune aims to become a global leader in
precision medicine of neurodegenerative diseases and in getting
closer to develop a therapy against Alzheimer's disease, in which
China plays an important role."
Dr Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics commented:
"We are excited about finalizing this exclusive and comprehensive
partnership and are pleased to enable AC Immune which has proven
itself as a global leader in CNS diseases by partnering with
Genentech and Lilly. Our comprehensive partnership would include
discovery, development and manufacturing of multiple biologics and
vaccine modalities including bispecific antibodies through our
proprietary WuXiBody(TM) Platform. This platform coupled with
WuXiUP tackles technical hurdles of conventional bispecific
platforms and tremendously reduces the cost of making these
biologics, which is critical for success of biologics in treating
CNS disorders. We will continue to invest in developing
next-generation globally leading technologies to enable global
clients and transform biologics discovery, development and
manufacturing. Together with global partners like AC Immune we are
developing and manufacturing life-saving biologics to benefit
patients around the world."
About AC Immune SA
AC Immune SA is a clinical-stage Swiss-based
biopharmaceutical company, listed on NASDAQ, which aims to become a
global leader in precision medicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases.
The Company designs, discovers and develops therapeutic as well as
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 (AD). The Company's pipeline features nine
therapeutic and three diagnostic product candidates - with five
product candidates currently in clinical trials. The most advanced
of these is crenezumab, a humanized
anti-beta-amyloid monoclonal IgG4 antibody that targets
monomeric and aggregated forms of beta-amyloid, with highest
affinity for neurotoxic oligomers. Crenezumab is currently in two
Phase 3 clinical studies for AD, under a global program conducted
by collaboration partner Roche/Genentech. Other collaborations
include Eli Lilly, Biogen, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Nestlé
Institute of Health Sciences, Life Molecular Imaging (formerly
Piramal Imaging) and Essex Bio-Technology. For more information on
AC Immune SA, please visit http://www.acimmune.com/
About WuXi Biologics
WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong
Kong-listed company, is the only open-access biologics technology
platform in the world offering end-to-end solutions to empower
organizations to discover, develop and manufacture biologics from
concept to commercial manufacturing. Our company history and
achievements demonstrate our commitment to providing a truly
one-stop service offering and value proposition to our global
clients. As of June 30, 2018, there were a total of 187 integrated
projects, including 98 projects in pre-clinical development stage,
78 projects in early-phase (Phase 1 and 2) clinical development, 10
projects in late-phase (Phase 3) development and 1 project in
commercial manufacturing. With a total estimated capacity of
biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, Singapore
and US reaching 220,000 liters after 2021, we provide our
biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global
supply chain network. For more information on WuXi Biologics,
please visit www.wuxibiologics.com.
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," "would," "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:
In EuropeDavid LoweAC Immune CorporatePhone: +41 21 345 91
21E-mail: david.lowe@acimmune.com |
In the USLisa SherAC Immune Investor Relations Phone: +1 970
987 26 54E-mail: lisa.sher@acimmune.com |
Nick Miles/Toomas KullCabinet Privé de Conseils s.a.Phone: +41 22
552 46 46 E-mail: miles@cpc-pr.com kull@cpc-pr.com |
In ChinaJia LiCorporate Communications, WuXi BiologicsPhone:
+86 (21) 2066 4528E-mail: li_jia0102@wuxiapptec.com |
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