On July 28, 2022 AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and provided a corporate update (Press release, AC Immune, JUL 28, 2022, View Source [SID1234617101]).

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Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented: "With world-class collaborators, including three major pharma companies, and cash for operations until Q1 2024, we believe we are well positioned to execute on multiple value-creating milestones. Our experienced team is working to deliver in H2 2022 four further clinical readouts from our precision medicine pipeline, adding to the three already reported.

"We continue to make real progress towards our goal of earlier diagnosis and prevention," Dr. Pfeifer continued, "We recently treated the first prodromal Alzheimer’s disease patient in our innovative adaptive design Phase 1b/2 trial of ACI-24.060, a highly differentiated best-in-class vaccine-candidate that has demonstrated strong immunogenicity against the two most toxic forms of Abeta, pyroGlu-Abeta and oligomeric Abeta. We expect interim data later this year from the Phase 1b, enabling us to advance into Phase 2 in individuals with Down syndrome, virtually all of whom develop Alzheimer’s."

Q2 2022 and Subsequent Highlights

Dosed the first patient in the placebo-controlled, Phase 1b/2 ABATE study evaluating the anti-Abeta vaccine ACI-24.060 in patients with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and individuals with Down syndrome (DS). An interim data readout from the Phase 1b portion of the trial in AD is expected in H2 2022.
Announced a peer-reviewed publication in JAMA Neurology1 featuring data showing that ACI-24, the predecessor of ACI-24.060, was safe and elicited an immune response in a Phase 1b clinical trial in adults with DS. This was the first-ever anti-Abeta vaccine study conducted in people living with DS and the paper also highlighted data providing evidence of target engagement in the trial.
Announced topline results from the Phase 2 Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative (API) study evaluating the anti-Abeta monoclonal antibody crenezumab in autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD). Results showed that both co-primary endpoints of the study were not statistically significant but numerical differences favoring crenezumab were observed across the majority of primary, secondary and exploratory endpoints. More detailed results will be presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) on August 2, 2022 by AC Immune’s partner Genentech, a member of the Roche group and the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.
Announced that AC Immune Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Andrea Pfeifer received the prestigious Aenne Burda Award for Creative Leadership in recognition of her work.
Expanded leadership by appointing Howard Donovan as Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Donovan is an internationally experienced, commercially focused leader. He joins from the World Economic Forum, where he led People Services since 2015.
Joerg Hornstein, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will leave AC Immune in the second half of 2022 to pursue a new opportunity. AC Immune is well positioned with two members of the Company’s proven Finance Leadership Team who will transition to new roles. Christopher Roberts has been appointed Vice President, Finance and interim CFO. Julian Snow has been appointed Vice President, U.S. Finance & Corporate Development.
Achieved and Anticipated 2022 Clinical Milestones

ACI-12589
a-syn-PET tracer Reported breakthrough results from first-in-human study at AD/PD 2022 conference
ACI-35.030
anti-pTau vaccine Reported Phase 1b/2a interim analysis from highest dose group; Expect to disclose late-stage development plans in H2 2022
ACI-24.060
anti-Abeta vaccine Dosed first patient in Phase 1b/2 trial of ACI-24.060 in patients with AD and individuals with DS
Phase 1b in AD readout and decision to move into DS expected in H2 2022
Crenezumab
anti-Abeta antibody Reported top line Phase 2 results from API study in autosomal dominant AD .
Semorinemab
anti-Tau antibody Additional biomarker data from the Phase 2 Lauriet study in mild-to-moderate AD expected in H2 2022
PI-2620
Tau-PET tracer Phase 2 results in AD to be unveiled at AAIC in San Diego, California (United States) and online, July 31 – August 4, 2022.
Clinical PET study readout in orphan indication expected in H2 2022
ACI-7104
anti-a-syn vaccine Initiation of Phase 2 trial in early PD expected in H2 2022
Analysis of Financial Statements for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2022

Cash Position: The Company had a total cash balance of CHF 154.1 million, composed of CHF 63.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and CHF 91.0 million in short-term financial assets. This compares to a total cash balance of CHF 198.2 million as of December 31, 2021. The Company’s cash balance provides enough capital resources to progress through at least Q1 2024 without consideration of potential incoming milestone payments.

R&D Expenditures: R&D expenses increased by CHF 2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, to CHF 15.7 million.

Discovery and preclinical expenses (- CHF 0.5 million): The Company decreased expenditures across a variety of its discovery and preclinical programs, led by ACI-24 for DS as this program advances into clinical development.

Clinical expenses (+ CHF 0.4 million): The Company increased expenditures across multiple clinical programs, predominantly for ACI-24 for DS and ACI-7104.

Other non-allocated (+ CHF 1.2 million): The Company’s other non-allocated R&D expenditure increased by CHF 0.9 million mostly related to the reallocation of certain IT and facilities costs, IT investments, as well as CHF 0.3 million across various other cost centers.

G&A Expenditures: For the three months ended June 30, 2022, G&A decreased by CHF 0.9 million to CHF 4.4 million. This decrease is mostly related to the reallocation of certain IT and facilities expenditures made in Q2 2022 that were not reclassified in the prior period.

Other Operating Income: The Company recognized CHF 0.2 million in grant income for R&D activities performed under our Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and Target ALS grants, a decrease of less than CHF 0.1 million compared to the prior period.

IFRS Loss for the Period: The Company reported a net loss after taxes of CHF 19.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared with a net loss of CHF 19.1 million for the comparable period in 2021.
References

Rafii MS et al, Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of the ACI-24 Vaccine in Adults With Down Syndrome, A Phase 1b Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA Neurology, 2022 May 9:79(5).