AC Immune SA Highlights Significant Clinical Milestones in Alzheimer's Disease Drug Development
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, December 4 /PRNewswire/ -- AC Immune SA, a leader in Alzheimer's disease drug development, announced today that the World Economic Forum has elected AC Immune as Technology Pioneer 2009 for its accomplishments as an innovation leader and for its breakthrough technologies that can have a deep impact on business and society.
Furthermore, AC Immune released that it has reached significant clinical milestones in the development of innovative therapies against Alzheimer's disease. The regulatory authorities have approved the Phase II clinical trial application of the small molecule ACI-91 for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Thirdly, AC Immune disclosed that Genentech Inc., which develops the anti-Abeta antibody under an exclusive license agreement with AC Immune, was granted fast track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the clinical development program in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Enrollment of the first patient in the Phase I clinical study during the third quarter of 2008 triggered a milestone payment to AC Immune of an undisclosed amount.
About AC Immune SA
AC Immune SA is leader in Alzheimer's disease drug development with their corporate headquarters in Ecublens/Lausanne, Switzerland. AC Immune combines its proprietary immunology (SupraAntigen(TM)) and chemistry (Morphomers(TM)) platform technologies to generate conformation-specific Alzheimer's therapies. AC Immune develops innovative therapeutics with "best in class" potential against Alzheimer's Disease along three axes: vaccines, antibodies and small molecules. The anti-Abeta antibody for passive immunization is partnered with Genentech and entered clinical Phase I trial in 2008. Two proprietary products, ACI-24 (vaccine) and ACI-91 (small molecule) are entering clinical trials in 2008/2009 and are backed by a rich portfolio of compounds at preclinical stage. Therapeutic molecules are leveraged for Alzheimer's disease diagnostic and other CNS and non-CNS diseases. Since its foundation in 2003, the company has raised CHF24 million in two financing rounds. At the end of 2006, the company closed a more than US$300 million out-licensing agreement with Genentech.
CONTACT: Contact: Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, Chief Executive Officer, Phone:
+41-21-693-91-23, E-Mail: andrea.pfeifer@acimmune.com; Eva Schier,
Corporate Communications Manager, Phone: +41-21-693-91-34, E-Mail:
eva.schier@acimmune.com