AC Immune SA (NASDAQ:ACIU) is quickly building on its strategy of designing, discovering, and developing small molecule and biological therapeutics. The company has a wide portfolio of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and products intended for these diseases. Today, AC Immune has kicked off a dosing group in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial to evaluate ACI-35.030, a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
This will be the second-highest dosing group and has been inspired by encouraging interim safety and tolerability results encountered from the first dosing group. It was at the lowest dose and in an elderly patient population. However, according to the company’s CEO Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, the results were meaningful and a reason enough to enroll for the next dosing group.
ACI-35.030 Builds on the Success of AC Immune’s ACI-35 Vaccine
ACI-35 vaccine was the first to undergo a Phase Ib trial in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s. After being injected in patients, the vaccine showed prompt target-specific antibody reaction against pTau. This led to the enhancement of preclinical tests of ACI-35.030, which revealed a good non-clinical safety profile as well as an expanded consistent antibody response.
With this, it is clear that ACI-35.030 is building on the success of its predecessor. The randomized, and controlled clinical study will run for 48weeks and other than assessing its safety and tolerability; it will also evaluate clinical and cognitive parameters. The company says the anti-p Tau generated by ACI-35.030 reduces the extent to which Tau pathology is spread.
‘’… our pTau-targeting approach holds significant promise for the treatment of AD at different disease stages,” Pfeifer noted.
Evaluation of ACI-24, an Anti-Amyloid Beta Vaccine
AC Immune’s current pipeline features nine therapeutic with five clinical trials. Apart from ACI-35.030 and many others, the company is also assessing ACI-24, which is in Phase Ib/II clinical trials for two different indications. Another is an anti-Tau antibody; semorinemab, in Phase II development and an anti-amyloid antibody, crenezumab, also in Phase II.
To accomplish these very important missions, biopharma has established collaborations with several industry players, including Roche/Genentech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company, among others.
