AC Immune Announces Amendment to Morphomer ® Tau License and Collaboration Agreement with Lilly
MWN-AI** Summary
AC Immune SA, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced an amendment to its existing collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to advance their research on Tau aggregation inhibitors. Originally established in 2018, this partnership aims to develop small molecules targeting intracellular Tau proteins, which have been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders.
The amendment underscores the significance of the Morphomer® platform and reflects growing interest within the scientific community for targeting Tau to potentially slow or prevent neurodegeneration. Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune, emphasized that recent breakthroughs in the Morphomer small molecules highlight their applicability for early-stage treatment and long-term prevention of neurodegenerative conditions. AC Immune plans to initiate Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies for these candidates by the first half of 2026.
As part of the revised agreement, AC Immune will receive an upfront payment of CHF 10 million, along with potential milestone payments linked to the progress of Phase 1 clinical trials. The company could be eligible for further development milestones totaling over CHF 1.7 billion, plus tiered royalty payments in the low double digits.
The Morphomer candidates are engineered for effective oral delivery and are designed to bind specifically to pathogenic forms of Tau, promising to inhibit its aggregation across various disease stages. AC Immune continues to leverage its expertise in neurodegenerative disease therapeutics, reinforced by strategic partnerships that enhance funding and support for its innovative pipeline, which includes multiple candidates in advanced clinical development.
MWN-AI** Analysis
AC Immune SA's recent amendment to its Morphomer® Tau collaboration with Eli Lilly presents a compelling opportunity for investors. This strategic partnership aims to develop Tau aggregation inhibitors for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, reflecting a pivotal moment in the field. As the science around intracellular Tau targeting advances, AC Immune is positioned at the forefront of this promising area, with IND-enabling studies set to commence in H1 2026.
The amended agreement grants AC Immune an upfront payment of CHF 10 million, alongside additional milestone payments, further bolstering its financial position. Given the potential for total milestone payments exceeding CHF 1.7 billion, coupled with low double-digit tiered royalty payments, the revenue prospects are particularly appealing. The company’s innovative Morphomer Tau candidates, which have demonstrated the ability to penetrate the brain and specifically bind to pathological Tau conformations, underscore a strong therapeutic potential.
Investors should note the increasing excitement in targeting Tau, evidenced by growing scientific validation indicating that such approaches may significantly alter Alzheimer’s disease progression. This enthusiasm is reflected in AC Immune's strong preclinical results, raising the likelihood of attracting further investment and partnerships.
Additionally, with AC Immune’s well-established technology platforms—SupraAntigen® and Morphomer®—the firm is well-equipped to deliver on its ambitious pipeline, which includes several candidates in advanced clinical stages. The existing collaborations with elite pharmaceutical companies ensure a robust funding mechanism, minimizing dilution while maximizing capital for research.
In conclusion, while the biopharmaceutical landscape presents inherent risks, AC Immune's strategic amendments and solid financial roadmaps present a compelling case for long-term investment. Stakeholders should closely monitor progress with IND studies and subsequent clinical developments, as these will substantially influence stock performance and value.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
AC Immune Announces Amendment to Morphomer ® Tau License and Collaboration Agreement with Lilly
- Amended agreement reflects growing excitement in the field for targeting intracellular Tau and significant progress made with our Morphomer small molecules
- Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies to commence in H1 2026
Lausanne, Switzerland, April 7, 2026 -- AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced an agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) to amend their 2018 license and collaboration agreement to research and develop Tau aggregation inhibitor small molecules for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. The amendment continues the research and collaboration to cover development of new lead Tau Morphomer® candidates and potential back-up compounds.
Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented: “The progress in this collaboration highlights the important breakthroughs we have made with Morphomer small molecules for intracellular targeting of Tau. We look forward to working with the team at Lilly to drive forward the development of these potentially disruptive small molecule therapeutics for early-stage treatment and long-term prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Increasingly, the scientific evidence suggests that targeting intracellular Tau can slow or even completely halt the pathology. This collaboration exemplifies our work towards precision prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. We expect to initiate Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies imminently.”
Morphomer Tau candidates were selected for their ability to enter the brain when dosed orally, and for their specific binding to the targeted pathological conformation of the Tau protein. AC Immune has generated strong preclinical data suggesting that Tau Morphomers should be clinically relevant for inhibiting aggregation and seeding across pathological and disease stages.
Under this amendment, AC Immune will receive a CHF10 million upfront payment and a subsequent milestone payment with Phase 1 dosing, in addition to milestones announced in a prior amendment. AC Immune is eligible for further development, regulatory and commercial milestones of over CHF1.7 billion, plus tiered percentage royalty payments in the low double digits, as previously disclosed.
About AC Immune SA
AC Immune SA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and a global leader in precision prevention 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®, fuel its pipeline of first- and best-in-class assets, which currently features a range of therapeutic and diagnostic programs, including candidates in Phase 2 and Phase 3 development. AC Immune has a strong track record of securing strategic partnerships with leading global pharmaceutical companies, resulting in substantial non-dilutive funding to advance its proprietary programs and >$4.5 billion in potential milestone payments plus royalties.
SupraAntigen® is a registered trademark of AC Immune SA in the following territories: AU, EU, CH, GB, JP, RU, SG and USA. Morphomer® is a registered trademark of AC Immune SA in CA, CN, CH, EU, GB, JP, KR, NO, RU and SG.
The information on our website and any other websites referenced herein is expressly not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this press release.
For further information, please contact:
| SVP, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Gary Waanders, Ph.D., MBA AC Immune Phone: +41 21 345 91 91 Email: gary.waanders@acimmune.com | |
| International Media Chris Maggos Cohesion Bureau Phone: +41 79 367 6254 Email: chris.maggos@cohesionbureau.com |
Forward looking statements
This 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 Immune’s 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 management’s 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 Immune’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.
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FAQ**
How does the amended agreement between AC Immune SA (ACIU) and Eli Lilly enhance the development of Tau Morphomer® candidates compared to their previous collaboration?
What specific milestones will AC Immune SA (ACIU) need to achieve to unlock the potential CHF1.7 billion in further development and regulatory milestones?
Can AC Immune SA (ACIU) provide more details on the anticipated timeline for Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies and their expected outcomes?
What scientific evidence supports the claim that targeting intracellular Tau can slow or halt neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in the context of AC Immune SA (ACIU)'s Morphomer® approach?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU).
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