GlobeNewswire Inc | Feb 8, 2021 07:00AM EST

February 08, 2021

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Feb. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a Swiss-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a broad pipeline focused on neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the first patient has been scanned in a first-in-human study of its novel diagnostic agent for Parkinsons disease (PD). ACI-12589 is a next-generation positron emission tomography (PET) imaging tracer that has shown significant potential to reliably detect and map deposits of pathological alpha-synuclein protein in the brain, which is the major hallmark of PD. AC Immune expects to report the results of the study in Q3 2021. The clinical study is supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research (MJFF), building on The Foundations significant funding of AC Immunes program since 2015.

Alpha-synuclein misfolding and aggregation are the molecular basis for the formation of pathological Lewy bodies and neurites, which are characteristic of PD and other alpha-synucleinopathies such as multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). In preclinical studies, ACI-12589 demonstrates significantly improved target occupancy and binds to PD patient-derived tissue with improved sensitivity and specificity compared to AC Immunes prior-generation candidates. These favorable characteristics highlight the significant potential of ACI-12589 to become the worlds first diagnostic tool for assessing brain alpha-synuclein pathology in PD. An effective diagnostic may enable accurate, potentially earlier diagnosis as well as monitoring of disease progression to facilitate longitudinal drug efficacy measurements in patients. Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented: The unmet need for reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tools to enable precision medicine approaches in Parkinsons disease is substantial, which is why our alpha-synuclein PET tracer program is so critical for the field. While inclusions containing misfolded aggregates of this key protein have long been considered an important neuropathology in this debilitating neurodegenerative disease, the means to accurately detect and quantify pathological alpha-synuclein in the brain has remained elusive. With our next-generation PET tracer candidate, we believe there is potential to change this paradigm. ACI-12589 demonstrates ideal properties in preclinical studies using patient-derived brain tissue, which is another testament to the strength of our Morphomer platform and the medicinal chemistry expertise at AC Immune. We are pleased to have the continued support of the MJFF as we enter the clinic with this promising diagnostic candidate, which, together with our novel therapeutic candidates targeting pathological alpha-synuclein, encapsulate our precision medicine approach to neurodegenerative diseases.

AC Immunes PET tracers are derived from the Companys innovative Morphomer technology platform, which accelerates the design, development and synthesis of conformation-specific, CNS- and cell-penetrant small molecules to power successful diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The Morphomer platform has produced multiple small molecules that have been validated in clinical studies, including both therapeutic and diagnostic candidates that selectively target pathological forms of Tau protein. In addition to ACI-12589, AC Immune is advancing Morphomer-derived small molecule aggregation inhibitors that significantly decrease alpha-synuclein aggregate formation in cellular assays with favorable pharmacokinetic properties for further evaluation in vivo.

About AC Immune SA AC Immune SA is a Nasdaq-listed clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, which aims to become a global leader in precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases. The Company utilizes two proprietary platforms, SupraAntigenTMand MorphomerTM, to design, discover and develop small molecule and biological therapeutics as well as diagnostic products intended to diagnose, prevent and modify neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolding proteins. The Company's pipeline features nine therapeutic and three diagnostic product candidates, with six currently in clinical trials. It has collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies including Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Eli Lilly and Company and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

For further information, please contact:

Head of Investor Relations US MediaJoshua Drumm, Ph.D. Katie GallagherAC Immune LaVoie Health SciencePhone: +1 917 809 0814 Phone: +1 617 792 3937Email: joshua.drumm@acimmune.com Email: kgallagher@lavoiehealthscience.com European Investors & Media Chris Maggos LifeSci Advisors Phone: +41 79 367 6254 Email: chris@lifesciadvisors.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 Immunes 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 managements 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 Immunes Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These include: the impact of Covid-19 on our business, suppliers, patients and employees and any other impact of Covid-19. 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.