AC Immune Introduces New ADC Technology for Better Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment at AAIC 2024

LAUSANNE, Switzerland I July 31, 2024 - AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, introduced a pioneering group of neurodegenerative disease-fighting drug candidates named morADC (Morphomer Antibody Drug Conjugate) during the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC 2024) held from July 28 – August 1, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Madiha Derouazi, Chief Scientific Officer of AC Immune, presented a detailed analysis and laboratory efficacy of morADC. Her presentation, titled “A new class of neurodegenerative disease-fighting drugs: morADC (Morphomer Antibody Drug Conjugates),” highlighted several key points:

In oncology, antibody-drug conjugates are typically engineered to target and eliminate tumor cells. In contrast, AC Immune’s morADC for neurodegenerative diseases merge the high brain penetrance of Morphomer small molecules with the target specificity of monoclonal antibodies to diminish pathological, aggregating proteins in the central nervous system.

Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, expressed her excitement: “Today we unveil our powerful new morADC technology, which synergistically combines the industry-leading capabilities of our SupraAntigen and Morphomer platforms. Based on the data we have produced to date, we are confident that this is a groundbreaking moment, showing that morADC offer unique functionality and are potentially disruptive in our industry. We look forward with great enthusiasm to developing these exciting first-in-class therapeutic candidates as part of our mission to pioneer precision prevention for neurodegenerative diseases.”

Dr. Pfeifer further elaborated on the company’s platforms: “Our clinically validated SupraAntigen and Morphomer platforms have been the engines driving our track record of discovering and developing highly valuable therapeutic candidates. Our partnering history has demonstrated that these platforms are robust and that they have reliably enabled us to develop multiple first- and best-in-class molecules for diagnostic and therapeutic development.”

The morADC technology platform integrates AC Immune’s leading SupraAntigen and Morphomer technologies for the discovery and development of biologics and small molecules aimed at detecting, preventing, and treating neurodegenerative diseases. The SupraAntigen platform is employed to discover and develop both active (vaccines) and passive (monoclonal antibodies) immunotherapies. It utilizes small spherical liposomes to present specific antigens in a manner designed to generate conformation-specific, antigen-targeting antibodies. The Morphomer platform combines small molecule chemistry with proprietary biological assays, enabling the identification and development of small molecule Morphomers that target pathological protein aggregates within brain compartments.

By linking Morphomer small molecules to SupraAntigen antibodies, forming Morphomer Antibody Drug Conjugates (morADC), this innovative technology harnesses the strengths of AC Immune’s validated platforms. This combination results in enhanced blood-brain barrier penetration and increased potency, underscoring their potential to deliver groundbreaking efficacy against multiple high-value therapeutic targets. This advancement presents a significant step forward in overcoming challenges faced by current treatment modalities and improving clinical outcomes for patients.

AC Immune SA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and a leading force in precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and NeuroOrphan indications driven by misfolded proteins. The Company’s two clinically validated technology platforms, SupraAntigen and Morphomer, support a wide-ranging and diversified pipeline of leading assets, which currently includes sixteen therapeutic and diagnostic programs, five of which are in Phase 2 clinical trials, and one in Phase 3. AC Immune has a proven history of forming strategic partnerships with leading global pharmaceutical companies, securing substantial non-dilutive funding through potential milestone payments and royalties.

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