AC Immune discovers next-generation antibodies focused on neurodegenerative diseases

Swiss biotech AC Immune (Nasdaq: ACIU) shares gained 3.5% in response to the announcement that it has discovered two new antibodies using its proprietary SupraAntigen platform, against two targets in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Alpha-synuclein is an established target for Parkinson's disease and other Lewy body diseases, while TDP-43 is a recently identified target of growing interest for neuro-orphan indications such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration. More interestingly, says the company, both targets also play an important role in other significant neurodegenerative indications such as Alzheimer's disease, beyond the established hallmarks of Abeta and Tau. These next-generation antibodies were discovered using the company's proprietary SupraAntigen platform, which has already generated four products in clinical development, including crenezumab partnered with Genentech/Roche (ROG: SIX) in Phase III for Alzheimer's.

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