AC Immune reports positive interim safety data for ACI-24.060 in Down syndrome, showing no serious adverse events noted.
Quiver AI Summary
AC Immune SA announced positive interim safety data from its Phase 1b/2 ABATE trial evaluating ACI-24.060, an investigational immunotherapy for individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The drug was found to be generally safe and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events or cases of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities reported. Following these encouraging results, AC Immune plans to begin a high-dose cohort within the trial. The study targets amyloid beta pathology, which is significant as individuals with DS are at high risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. AC Immune's Chief Medical Officer expressed optimism about the potential therapeutic option ACI-24.060 presents. The ongoing trial, which has already shown favorable data in Alzheimer’s disease cohorts, will continue to recruit participants across the U.S., U.K., and Spain.
Potential Positives
- ACI-24.060 was found to be generally safe and well tolerated in individuals with Down syndrome, with no serious adverse events related to the study drug.
- No cases of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities were observed in the study population, indicating a favorable safety profile.
- AC Immune plans to open the high-dose cohort in the ABATE trial, suggesting confidence in the investigational drug's efficacy and safety.
- The drug has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting its potential as a significant therapeutic option.
Potential Negatives
- The press release does not provide detailed information on the efficacy of ACI-24.060, which may raise concerns about its potential benefits despite positive safety data.
- There is no mention of the specific timeline for the high-dose cohort or when results might be expected, leaving stakeholders without clear expectations.
- The acknowledgment of the vulnerable population (individuals with Down syndrome) raises ethical concerns regarding the prioritization of safety in clinical trials that may lack robust efficacy data.
FAQ
What are the results of the ABATE trial for ACI-24.060?
ACI-24.060 was generally safe and well tolerated in individuals with Down syndrome, with no serious adverse events reported.
Is ACI-24.060 associated with amyloid-related imaging abnormalities?
No cases of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) were observed in the study population receiving ACI-24.060.
What is the goal of the ABATE study?
The ABATE study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and effects of ACI-24.060 in individuals with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.
Who is eligible to participate in the ABATE trial?
Individuals with Down syndrome aged 35 to 50 with confirmed brain Abeta pathology via PET scan can participate in the ABATE trial.
What designation has ACI-24.060 received from the FDA?
ACI-24.060 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
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Full Release
AC Immune Reports Interim Safety Data from Phase 1b/2 ABATE Trial of ACI-24.060 in Down syndrome
- ACI-24.060 was generally safe and well tolerated in individuals with Down syndrome with no serious adverse events related to the study drug
- No cases of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities observed in this study population
- Based upon these findings, AC Immune plans to open the high-dose cohort in ABATE in individuals with Down syndrome
Lausanne, Switzerland, December 10, 2024 – AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced interim safety and tolerability data from the ABATE Phase 1b/2 trial of ACI-24.060 in individuals living with Down syndrome (DS). Targeting toxic forms of amyloid beta (Abeta), ACI-24.060 is an active immunotherapy covering Abeta 1-15 (excluding Abeta T-cell epitopes). The interim analysis was based on data from the first two cohorts of individuals with DS receiving low-dose and mid-dose ACI-24.060. DS subjects in the interim analysis have been treated for up to one year, with no serious adverse events related to the study drug and no case of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) observed in this study population.
Dr. Anke Post, Chief Medical Officer of AC Immune SA, commented: “These interim safety data are encouraging and supportive of the potential of ACI-24.060 to provide people with Down syndrome a novel therapeutic option targeting brain Abeta pathology while providing initial favorable safety and tolerability.”
The ongoing ABATE study (NCT05462106) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1b/2 trial assessing the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity and pharmacodynamic effects of the investigational immunotherapy. The study was specifically designed to support parallel development in individuals with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and non-demented adults with DS, a vulnerable population predisposed to developing AD.
Dr. Mike Rafii, Medical Director of the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, Professor of Neurology at the Keck School of Medicine, and Coordinating Principal Investigator of the ABATE study commented: “Safety is particularly important in the Down syndrome population, in which treatments targeting amyloid pathology are urgently needed to prevent the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. To date, the safety and tolerability profile of ACI-24.060 is encouraging.”
ACI-24.060 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of AD. The Company previously reported positive interim safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity from the AD cohorts of the ABATE trial, which supported the treatment with ACI-24.060 in individuals with DS in ABATE.
The trial will now start to evaluate the high dose of ACI-24.060 in additional patients with DS. Recruitment of individuals with DS continues at ABATE trial sites in the U.S., U.K., and Spain.
About the Phase 1b/2 ABATE Study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05462106 ; www.abate-study.com)
The ABATE study is a Phase 1b/2, multicenter, adaptive, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and pharmacodynamic effects of ACI-24.060 in subjects with prodromal AD and in adults with DS. All participants in the trial must have brain Abeta pathology confirmed by a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Recent clinical studies and FDA approvals have validated Abeta as a disease modifying therapeutic target in AD and are supportive of Abeta PET imaging as a surrogate marker of efficacy. The ABATE trial aims at evaluating various doses/dosing regimens of ACI-24.060 in both AD and DS populations. Individuals with DS between the ages of 35 and 50 who would like to learn more can visit the ABATE Study website at www.abate-study.com to find the site nearest them.
About Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in Down Syndrome (DS)
Individuals with DS have a third copy of all or part of chromosome 21, which contains the gene that codes for amyloid-precursor protein (APP). Overproduction of APP is believed to cause the accumulation of Abeta plaques. Virtually all individuals with DS will develop Abeta plaques and AD 1 , with DS-related AD sharing a similar pathophysiology and biomarkers with other forms of genetic AD. Given the predictable onset and progression of symptoms in DS-related AD, AC Immune believes ABATE’s results will offer crucial insights into the ability of ACI-24.060 active immunotherapy to target brain Abeta at its early stages and offer this population a much needed therapeutic option.
About ACI-24.060
ACI-24.060, derived from AC Immune’s SupraAntigen® platform, covers Abeta 1-15 which excludes T-cell epitopes. ACI-24.060 has been shown in preclinical studies to induce a strong polyclonal antibody response that matures and is maintained against both oligomeric and pyroglutamate-Abeta species, key pathological forms of Abeta believed to drive Abeta plaque formation and disease progression. ACI-24.060 is designed to enhance the formation of broad-spectrum protective antibodies with the same safety and tolerability previously demonstrated in the ACI-24 program in Phase 1 and 2 trials. This investigational candidate has the potential to efficiently inhibit plaque formation and increase plaque clearance, and thereby may reduce or prevent disease progression.
Reference
- Lott, Ira T., and Elizabeth Head. "Dementia in Down syndrome: unique insights for Alzheimer disease research." Nature Reviews Neurology 15.3 (2019): 135-147.
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 broad and diversified pipeline of first- and best-in-class assets, which currently features sixteen therapeutic and diagnostic programs, including five in Phase 2 development and one in Phase 3. 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 CN, CH, GB, JP, KR, NO and RU.
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 | U.S. Investors Christina Tartaglia Precision AQ Phone: +1 212 362 1200 Email: christina.tartaglia@precisionaq.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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