GlobeNewswire Inc | Mar 9, 2021 07:00AM EST

March 09, 2021

Four presentations at AD/PD2021 feature latest findings from wholly owned therapeutic and diagnostic programs targeting pathological forms of alpha-synuclein and TDP-43

First biologically active small molecule inhibitors of intracellular alpha-synuclein aggregation advancing toward in vivo proof-of-concept studies

Anti-TDP-43 therapeutic antibody candidates demonstrate dual mechanism of action against pathological TDP-43 in vivo

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, March 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a Swiss-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a broad pipeline focused on neurodegenerative diseases, today outlined new preclinical data that will be presented at the 15th International Conference on Alzheimers & Parkinsons Diseases (AD/PD), taking place virtually from March 914, 2021. Data from the Companys wholly owned, first-in-class therapeutic and diagnostic programs targeting pathological forms of alpha-synuclein and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) are described during four oral and e-poster presentations. Together the presentations further illustrate the synergy between AC Immunes SupraAntigenand Morphomertechnology platforms to deliver a precision medicine approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases (NDD).

Alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 are hallmarks of major NDD such as Parkinsons disease and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE), respectively, and are well-recognized co-pathologies in Alzheimers disease linked to accelerated cognitive decline. AC Immune targets pathological forms of these proteins with highly specific antibody and small molecule therapeutics, as well as first-in-class positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic candidates, which are amongst the most advanced in the field.

Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented: We continue to expand our position as a global leader in precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases by leveraging our Morphomerand SupraAntigenplatforms to discover and advance first-in-class therapeutics in parallel with companion diagnostics. Our approach informs and enables targeting the right proteinopathies, in the right patient, at the right time, and provides a pathway toward tailored combination therapies in the future. In addition to our pipeline targeting amyloid-beta and Tau pathologies, the alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 programs highlighted in our AD/PDpresentations are crucial components of such an approach, as these proteins have recently emerged as key targets across a multitude of neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof. Pfeifer continued: In vivo characterization of our next-generation alpha-synuclein PET tracer candidate further illustrates its strong diagnostic profile, and we anticipate reporting the first clinical results from this potentially game-changing program in the third quarter of this year. Success in this exciting program could greatly accelerate the advancement of therapeutics for Parkinsons disease and other alpha-synucleinopathies, including our first-in-class alpha-synuclein aggregation inhibitors, by enabling accurate diagnosis, patient selection and longitudinal drug efficacy measurement based on changes in alpha-synuclein pathology in the brain. This precision medicine approach is mirrored by our TDP-43 antibody and PET tracer programs, for which weve also demonstrated highly encouraging therapeutic and diagnostic potential.

Details of AC Immunes AD/PD2021 presentations

Morphomer TDP-43 imagingFirst-in-class TDP-43 PET tracers were characterized using a newly optimized radiobinding assay, which enabled the identification of several distinct chemical series of promising Morphomers that bind to recombinant and brain-derived TDP-43 aggregates. Selected compounds also demonstrate direct target engagement on patient-derived brain tissue, as assessed by a positive signal in a proprietary high-resolution autoradiography assay that co-localized with pathological TDP-43. Medicinal chemistry is ongoing to further optimize the properties of hit compounds, and investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies are expected to begin in Q3 2021.

Title: Discovery of PET tracers for TDP-43 proteinopathiesDate: Thursday, March 11, 2021 | 10:45 11:00 am CETPresenter: Oral presentation by Tamara Seredenina

Anti-TDP-43 antibodyData to be presented show that AC Immunes lead anti-TDP-43 antibody, the first with reported in vivo activity, significantly reduced levels of pathological (phosphorylated or insoluble) forms of TDP-43 in the brain in a murine neurodegenerative disease model. New data also demonstrate the antibodys dual mechanism of action, showing that it inhibits TDP-43 aggregation and promotes the uptake and clearance of pre-existing TDP-43 aggregates by microglia. The lead candidate is currently in IND-enabling studies and is expected to start preclinical toxicology studies by year end.

Title: TDP-43 antibody directed microglial clearance and inhibition of seeded aggregation mitigates neuropathology in models of TDP-43 proteinopathyDate: Thursday, March 11, 2021 | 11:15 11:30 am CETPresenter: Oral presentation by Tariq Afroz

Morphomer alpha-synuclein imagingNew preclinical data for ACI-12589, a next-generation alpha-synuclein PET tracer being developed as a first-in-class diagnostic imaging agent for Parkinsons disease and other alpha-synucleinopathies, confirm that the Morphomer-derived candidate has a desirable brain-PET ligand pharmacokinetic profile in non-human primates. ACI-12589 has previously shown excellent target engagement and signal specificity on tissue samples from patients with alpha-synucleinopathies, including Parkinsons disease, multiple system atrophy (MSA) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). ACI-12589 is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human study.

Title: [18F]ACI-12589, a novel alpha-synuclein radiotracer as a biomarker in patients with Parkinsons disease and other synucleinopathiesE-poster ID: P531 / #868Presenter: E-poster presentation by Efthymia Vokali

Morphomer alpha-synuclein small molecule aggregation inhibitorThe first biologically active small molecule inhibitors targeting intracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates have been identified using the Morphomerplatform. Data to be presented for the first time show that these initial compounds, from several distinct chemical series, significantly decrease alpha-synuclein aggregate formation in cellular assays by interfering with the fibrillation process. Iterative medicinal chemistry optimization led to the identification of compounds with favorable CNS-penetrant pharmacokinetic properties, which will be progressed into in vivo proof-of-concept studies in models of alpha-synucleinopathies, expected to begin in Q3 2021.

Title: Generating a first in class inhibitor to treat Parkinsons disease by targeting intracellular alpha-synuclein pathologyE-poster ID: P425 / #1195Presenter: E-poster presentation by Nadine At-Bouziad

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, SupraAntigenand Morphomer, 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

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