On April 28, 2022 AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, and provided a corporate update (Press release, AC Bioscience, APR 28, 2022, View Source [SID1234613164]).
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Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented: "We continue to make strong progress in pursuit of our mission to enable the earlier diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately prevention, of neurodegenerative diseases. Our recent AD/PDTM presentations exemplified the breadth and innovative excellence of our approaches, including ACI-12589 generating the first live images of alpha-synuclein in human brains. This critical breakthrough lays the groundwork for precision medicine, including a pathway for biomarker-based development for NeuroOrphan indications."
Prof. Pfeifer continued: "Throughout the remainder of 2022, we expect to report five additional clinical data readouts from vaccine, antibody, and diagnostic programs targeting Abeta and Tau, including top line results from the landmark Alzheimer’s prevention trial of anti-Abeta antibody crenezumab expected in the coming months. Each of the anticipated milestones represents an important opportunity for value creation and an affirmation of AC Immune’s position as a global leader in addressing neurodegenerative diseases. We look forward to executing on our plan in the year ahead and are pleased to be well financed through at least Q1 2024."
Q1 2022 and Subsequent Highlights
Reported the first live images of alpha-synuclein in the human brain with ACI-12589, AC Immune’s wholly-owned alpha-synuclein (a-syn) positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, at the AD/PDTM 2022 Conference. Clinical PET image analyses showed enhanced contrast and a-syn target specificity in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), as well as increased tracer retention in brain areas affected by MSA disease processes. Together with preclinical data also presented at AD/PDTM 2022, these analyses demonstrate ACI-12589’s potential to be the first non-invasive diagnostic for alpha-synucleinopathies (e.g. MSA).
Hosted a key opinion leader webinar on a-syn as a target in neurodegenerative diseases featuring Oskar Hansson, MD, PhD, of Skåne University Hospital and Lund University. To view the presentation and a replay of the webinar, click here.
Announced interim Phase 1b/2a trial data confirming the consistent safety and potent immunogenicity of ACI-35.030, a first-in-class phosphorylated-Tau (pTau) vaccine candidate. Data from the high-dose cohort showed the strong induction of antibodies selective for pTau and its aggregated form, enriched paired helical filaments (ePHF). The data also support ACI-35.030’s favorable safety profile and plans for its continued late-stage development.
Published new data on the optimized formulation of ACI-24 in the peer-reviewed journal Brain Communications, showing that the anti-Abeta vaccine was well tolerated in preclinical models and generated a broad polyclonal anti-Abeta response with high titers of antibodies against neurotoxic pyroglutamate Abeta (pyroGlu-Abeta), a major component of Abeta plaques. Optimized ACI-24 was also shown to have enhanced and sustained immunogenicity against another key pathological Abeta species, oligomeric Abeta, in preclinical studies presented at AD/PDTM 2022.
Expanded leadership with the appointment of Howard Donovan as Chief HR Officer and member to 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, will leave 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 is appointed Vice President, Finance and interim CFO. Julian Snow is appointed Vice President, U.S. Finance & Corporate Development.
Achieved and Anticipated 2022 Clinical Milestones
ACI-12589
a-syn-PET tracer Reported 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 in Q1; Expect to disclose future late-stage development plans in H2 2022
ACI-24 (optimized)
anti-Abeta vaccine ACI-24 (optimized vaccine formulation) Phase 1b/2a first-patient-in (AD) in H1 2022
Phase 1b in AD readout and decision to move into DS expected in H2 2022
Crenezumab
anti-Abeta antibody Top line Phase 2 results from AD prevention trial in patients with autosomal dominant AD expected in H1 2022
Semorinemab
anti-Tau antibody Additional fluid biomarker data from the Phase 2 Lauriet study in mild-to-moderate AD expected in H2 2022
PI-2620
Tau-PET tracer Phase 2 and Phase 1 results in AD and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) respectively, 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 March 31, 2022
Cash Position: The Company had a total cash balance of CHF 173.8 million, composed of CHF 57.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and CHF 116.0 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 1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, to CHF 15.1 million.
Discovery and preclinical expenses (- CHF 0.6 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 0.9 million): The Company increased expenditures across multiple clinical programs, predominantly for ACI-24 for DS and ACI-7104 as the program prepares to enter Phase 2 testing in early PD patients in H2 2022.
Other non-allocated (+ CHF 1.5 million): The Company’s other non-allocated R&D expenditure increased by CHF 0.9 million related to the reallocation of certain IT and facilities costs and IT related investments as well as CHF 0.6 million across various other cost centers.
G&A Expenditures: For the three months ended March 31, 2022, G&A decreased by CHF 0.2 million to CHF 4.2 million. This decrease is predominantly related to a CHF 0.7 million reallocation of certain IT and facilities expenditures made in Q1 2022 that were not reclassified in the prior period.
Other Operating Income: The Company recognized CHF 0.5 million in grant income for R&D activities performed under our Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and Target ALS grants, an increase 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 18.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared with a net loss of CHF 16.7 million for the comparable period in 2021.
2022 Financial Guidance
For the full year 2022, the Company expects its total cash burn to be in the range, CHF 75 million to CHF 80 million. The Company defines cash burn as operating expenditures adjusted to include capital expenditures and offset by significant non-cash items (including share-based compensation and depreciation expense).