Annexon to Present Data on Neuroprotection of ANX007 and C1q Inhibition in Geographic Atrophy at ARVO 2024

Annexon, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, will share new findings at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, scheduled for May 5-9, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. The company will present additional data from the Phase 2 ARCHER trial of ANX007, showcasing its effectiveness in treating geographic atrophy (GA), a severe eye disease.

The first presentation, an oral session titled “Protection Against Vision Loss by ANX007: Results from the Phase 2 ARCHER Clinical Trial,” will be delivered by Dr. David S. Boyer of Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group, California. This session will take place on May 7, 2024, from 9:15 to 9:30 a.m. PT at Seattle Convention Center. The focus will be on ANX007's role in maintaining visual acuity and preserving photoreceptors in GA patients.

The second presentation, a poster session titled “C1q inhibition protects photoreceptor synapses and preserves retinal function in a preclinical model of photoreceptor degeneration,” will be presented by Dr. Alessia Tassoni, Associate Director at Annexon Biosciences. This session is scheduled for the same day from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. PT. It will highlight the preclinical data on how C1q inhibition can protect photoreceptor synapses and preserve retinal function.

ANX007 is a fragment antigen-binding (fab) antibody designed to inhibit C1q, a molecule that initiates the classical complement pathway, which is associated with neurodegeneration. In GA, C1q binds to photoreceptor synapses early on, leading to synapse loss, inflammation, and vision impairment. The intravitreal administration of ANX007 halts C1q and classical pathway activation, protecting photoreceptor synapses and essential vision cells in animal models. ANX007 is the first GA treatment to receive PRIME designation in the EU for its potential therapeutic advantages.

The Phase 2 ARCHER clinical trial, a randomized, multi-center, double-masked, sham-controlled study, showed that ANX007 consistently protected against vision loss in GA patients. The trial’s topline data, reported in May 2023, indicated statistically significant protection from vision loss based on best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), a key functional endpoint. The treatment effect of ANX007 increased over time, suggesting durable benefits. The protective effects were maintained for six months after treatment, although the rate of vision decline began to parallel that of the sham group. ANX007 was well-tolerated with no increase in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or retinal vasculitis events.

Geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), causes photoreceptor synapse and cell loss in the retina, leading to severe vision impairment. GA affects approximately one million people in the United States and eight million globally, making effective treatments crucial, as current therapies do not significantly prevent vision loss.

Annexon Biosciences is dedicated to developing therapies targeting classical complement-mediated neuroinflammatory diseases. The company's scientific approach focuses on inhibiting C1q to prevent the inflammatory cascade, aiming to benefit patients with autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and ophthalmic diseases. With ongoing mid-to-late-stage clinical trials, Annexon aims to bring its treatments to patients swiftly.