UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO
RULE 13a-16 OR
15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of July, 2024
Commission file number: 001-37891
AC IMMUNE SA
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
EPFL Innovation Park
Building B
1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files
or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒
Form 40-F ☐
On July 31, 2024, AC Immune SA issued a press release announcing that
it had unveiled a novel class of neurodegenerative disease-fighting drug-candidates called morADC (Morphomer® Antibody
Drug Conjugate) in an oral presentation at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC 2024), taking place
from July 28 – August 1, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA. MorADC combines proprietary brain-penetrant small molecule Morphomers®
with SupraAntigen® monoclonal antibodies, forming a new class of drug-candidates to target toxic proteins in the central
nervous system.
A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report
on Form 6-K.
This Report on Form 6-K (other than Exhibit 99.1 hereto) shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference into the registration statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-227016, 333-249655, 333-255576 and 333-277940)
and Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-213865, 333-216539 and 333-233019) of AC Immune SA and to be a part thereof from the date on which this report
is filed, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.
EXHIBIT INDEX
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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AC IMMUNE SA |
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By: |
/s/ Andrea Pfeifer |
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Name: |
Andrea Pfeifer |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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By: |
/s/ Christopher Roberts |
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Name: |
Christopher Roberts |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
Date: July 31, 2024
Exhibit 99.1
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Press
Release
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AC Immune Unveils Novel Therapeutic Antibody
Drug Conjugate (ADC) Technology for Improved Efficacy in Neurodegenerative Diseases at AAIC 2024
| · | morADC combines proprietary brain-penetrant small molecule Morphomers®
with SupraAntigen® monoclonal antibodies, forming a new class of drug-candidates to target toxic proteins in CNS |
| · | morADC demonstrated significant synergies, substantially increasing blood
brain barrier penetration and potency to inhibit protein aggregation compared to the antibody or small molecule alone |
Lausanne, Switzerland, July 31, 2024 –
AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases,
today unveiled a novel class of neurodegenerative disease-fighting drug-candidates called morADC (Morphomer® Antibody Drug
Conjugate) in an oral presentation at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC 2024), taking place from
July 28 – August 1, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Madiha Derouazi, Chief Scientific Officer of
AC Immune, presented the characterization and in vitro efficacy of morADC for the first time. The talk, entitled “A new
class of neurodegenerative disease-fighting drugs: morADC (Morphomer®- Antibody Drug Conjugates)”, showed that:
| · | morADC are designed for CNS applications capable of addressing important targets
including Abeta, Tau and a-synuclein |
| · | morADC enable single or dual-targeting strategies (e.g. an anti-Abeta antibody
combined with an anti-Tau small molecule) to deliver combination therapy in a single therapeutic agent |
| · | single-targeting morADC (i.e. antibody and small molecule targeting the same
protein) show significant synergistic anti-aggregation effects compared to the parental molecules |
| · | dual-targeting morADC (e.g. Abeta/Tau) show significantly enhanced anti-aggregation
effects compared to the parental molecules |
| · | additionally, conjugation of brain-penetrant Morphomers with a monoclonal
antibody can multiply antibody brain exposure in comparison to the parent antibody alone |
While in oncology antibody-drug conjugates are
designed to selectively kill tumor cells in a targeted manner, AC Immune’s morADC for neurodegenerative diseases combine the high
brain penetrance of Morphomer small molecules with the target specificity of monoclonal antibodies, to reduce pathological, aggregating
proteins in the central nervous system.
Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented:
“Today we unveil our powerful new morADC technology, which synergistically combines the industry-leading capabilities of our SupraAntigen
and Morphomer platforms. Based on the data we have produced to date, we are confident that this is a groundbreaking moment, showing that
morADC offer unique functionality and are potentially disruptive in our industry. We look forward with great enthusiasm to developing
these exciting first-in-class therapeutic candidates as part of our mission to pioneer precision prevention for neurodegenerative diseases.”
“Our clinically validated SupraAntigen and
Morphormer platforms have been the engines driving our track record of discovering and developing highly valuable therapeutic candidates.
Our partnering history has demonstrated that these platforms are robust and that they have reliably enabled us to develop multiple first-
and best-in-class molecules for diagnostic and therapeutic development.”
The morADC technology platform combines
AC Immune’s industry leading SupraAntigen® and Morphomer® technologies for discovery and development
of biologics and small molecules to detect, prevent and/or treat neurodegenerative diseases. SupraAntigen is used to discover and develop
both, active immunotherapies (vaccines) and passive immunotherapies (monoclonal antibodies). It uses small spherical liposomes, to present
specific antigens in a format designed to generate conformation-specific, antigen-targeting antibodies. The Morphomer platform combines
small molecule chemistry with proprietary biological assays enabling identification and development of small molecule Morphomers that
target pathological protein aggregates in extra- and intracellular brain compartments.
By attaching Morphomer small molecules to SupraAntigen
antibodies to form Morphomer Antibody Drug Conjugates (morADC), this new morADC technology combines the advantages of AC Immune’s
clinically validated technology platforms to offer unique synergistic properties. These include increased blood brain barrier penetration
and higher potency, highlighting their potential to deliver first- and best-in-class efficacy against multiple high value therapeutic
targets, thereby overcoming challenges faced by existing modalities and improving clinical outcomes for patients.
About AC Immune SA
AC Immune SA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company and a global leader in precision medicine 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, five of which are currently in Phase 2 clinical trials and one of
which is 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 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:
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Head of 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
Corey Davis, Ph.D.
LifeSci Advisors
Phone: +1 212 915 2577
Email: cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com |
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International Media
Chris Maggos
Cohesion Bureau
Phone: +41 79 367 6254
Email: chris.maggos@cohesionbureau.com |
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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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