GlobeNewswire Inc | Nov 4, 2021 06:00AM EDT

November 04, 2021

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Nov. 04, 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 it is extending its research partnership with leading scientists at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). The partnership is focused on studying the pathological mechanism of transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) misfolding, aggregation and cell-to-cell transmission.

The successful first two years of the collaboration between AC Immune and Penn demonstrated that TDP-43 aggregates from the brains of donors with different TDP-43 proteinopathies have distinct seeding and spreading capacity in vivo. The proteinopathies studied included amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and different subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration-TDP (FTLD-TDP). These results confirm the existence of distinct pathogenic TDP-43 species and have been published in Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology1.

In extending the collaboration with Penn, we aim to further understand the role of these distinct pathogenic TDP-43 species in the different TDP-43 proteinopathies. Through the development of novel experimental models, AC Immune and Penn hope to unravel the underlying mechanisms of cell-to-cell transmission of TDP-43 pathology that could provide new therapeutic strategies to target TDP-43-related proteinopathies.

Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented We are very excited to extend our collaboration with the outstanding team of Professor Virginia Lee and Dr. Slvia Porta at the University of Pennsylvania, continuing our exploration into the mechanisms and pathology driven by TDP-43. Our work has led to a better understanding of TDP-43 pathologies, which supports ACoImmunes aim as we advance one of the industrys broadest and most diversified pipeline with novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches against neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof. Virginia M.Y. Lee, Director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at the University of Pennsylvania, commented: TDP-43 pathology is strongly associated with cognitive decline and episodic memory loss in neurodegenerative diseases, such as FTLD and ALS, and also plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease. Our collaboration with AC Immune shows why industry sponsorship of academic research is vital for funding studies to advance our understanding into such an important target as TDP-43.

AC Immune has a lead anti-TDP-43 antibody in preclinical development, which has shown significantly reduced levels of pathological form of TDP-43 in the brain and conferred neuroprotection in murine neurodegenerative disease models. The company is also developing a first-in-class TDP-43 positron emission tomography (PET) tracer.

About AC Immune SA AC Immune SAis clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that aims to become a global leader in precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and NeuroOrphan indications driven by misfolded proteins. The Companys two clinically validated technology platforms, SupraAntigenand Morphomer, fuel its broad and diversified pipeline of first- and best-in-class assets, which currently features ten therapeutic and three diagnostic candidates, six of which are currently in clinical trials.AC Immunehas a strong track record of securing strategic partnerships with leading global pharmaceutical companies includingGenentech, a member of the Roche Group, Eli Lilly and Company, andJanssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., resulting in substantial non-dilutive funding to advance its proprietary programs and >$3billionin potential milestone payments.

SupraAntigenis a registered trademark ofAC Immune SAin the following territories: AU, EU, CH, GB, JP and RU. Morphomeris a registered trademark ofAC Immune SAin CN, CH, GB, JP, and NO.

References

-- Porta S, Xu Y, Lehr T, Zhang B, Meymand E, Olufemi M, Stieber A, Lee EB, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VM. Distinct brain-derived TDP-43 strains from FTLD-TDP subtypes induce diverse morphological TDP-43 aggregates and spreading patterns in vitro and in vivo. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2021 May 10. doi: 10.1111/nan.12732. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33971027

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations Investor RelationsSaoyuth Nidh Yves Kremer, Ph.D.AC Immune AC ImmunePhone: +41 21 345 91 34 Phone: +41 21 345 91 90Email: saoyuth.nidh@acimmune.com Email: yves.kremer@acimmune.com U.S. Media U.S. InvestorsShani Lewis Corey Davis, Ph.D.LaVoieHealthScience LifeSci AdvisorsPhone: +1 609 516 5761 Phone: +1 212 915 2577Email: slewis@lavoiehealthscience.com Email: cdavis@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.