AC Immune Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides a Corporate Update
05 November 2024 - 11:00PM
AC Immune Reports Third Quarter 2024
Financial Results and Provides a Corporate Update
- ACI-7104.056
VacSYn Phase 2 trial in Parkinson’s disease (PD) on track to report
interim safety and immunogenicity data
- Prescreening rate for Phase 2b
Retain trial of JNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
triggered CHF 24.6 million milestone under agreement
- JNJ-2056 received Fast Track
designation from the U.S. FDA
- Cash of CHF
157.9 million at the end of September, plus the CHF 24.6 million
milestone payment received in October, provides runway into
2027
Lausanne, Switzerland, November 5, 2024
– AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision therapeutics for
neurodegenerative diseases, today reported results for the quarter
ended September 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update.
Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA,
commented, “AC Immune has continued to make great strides
in our pipeline programs and partnerships throughout the third
quarter and recent months. We are particularly excited about the
recognition received for ACI-35.030 from both our partner Janssen,
in the form of a CHF 24.6 million milestone payment, and the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the form of Fast Track
designation for JNJ-2056, and that the first patient has been dosed
in the Retain trial. These milestones and the high level of patient
and investigator enthusiasm fueling the rapid rate of prescreening
for Retain, further highlight ACI-35.030’s unique potential to
prevent or slow progression in pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease.
We are eagerly anticipating reporting in the coming weeks the
interim safety and immunogenicity data from the Phase 2 VacSYn
study of ACI-7104.056 for the treatment of early PD, as we move
towards establishing clinical proof of concept with this active
immunotherapy. Overall, this quarter has seen important incremental
progress towards our overarching goal of shifting the treatment
paradigm of neurodegenerative diseases towards precision medicine
and disease prevention. We are now looking forward to a number of
potentially transformational value inflection points in the
future.”
Anticipated 2024 Milestones
ACI-24.060anti-Abeta active immunotherapy |
ABATE Phase 2 trial in AD remains on track with enrollment
expectations |
ACI-7104.056anti-a-syn active immunotherapy |
On track to report interim safety and immunogenicity from VacSYn
Phase 2 trial by year end 2024 |
TDP-43-PET tracer |
Phase 1 initiation expected by year end 2024 |
ACI-15916 a-syn-PET tracer |
IND-enabling studies in PD expected to be completed by year end
2024 |
Q3 2024 and Subsequent
Highlights
- The Phase 2
VacSYn clinical trial of ACI-7104.056 in PD is progressing well
with over 30 patients randomized in Part 1 of the study. We are on
track to report the first interim safety and immunogenicity data
from the trial.
- AC Immune
achieved the second Retain-related milestone payment (CHF 24.6
million) under its agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Janssen), a Johnson & Johnson company. The payment was
triggered by the rapid rate of prescreening in the potentially
registrational Phase 2b Retain trial investigating
active-immunotherapy candidate ACI-35.030 (JNJ-2056) to treat
preclinical (pre-symptomatic) AD. ACI-35.030 has been shown in
Phase 1b/2a clinical testing to induce an antibody response
targeting pathologic phosphorylated Tau, while sparing normal
physiologic forms of Tau.
- Retain-related
milestone payments now total CHF 40 million, including the first
milestone payment earned in December 2023.
- JNJ-2056
received Fast Track designation from the FDA for AD in July
2024.
- AC Immune’s
partner Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) received Fast Track
Designation for the partners’ Tau positron emission tomography
(PET) diagnostic, [18F]PI-2620, from the FDA in AD, progressive
supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD).
- PI-2620 has
demonstrated robust brain uptake and fast wash-out in non-target
regions, a broad imaging window between 30- and 90-minutes
post-injection for AD, and excellent reproducibility between test
and retest scans.
- AC Immune’s
preclinical results were featured in multiple presentations at the
Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2024:
- A new class of
neurodegenerative disease-fighting drugs: morADC
(Morphomer®-antibody drug conjugates), presented by M. Derouazi,
PhD (CSO of ACIU), featured data from the proprietary morADC
platform. Results demonstrated the ability of morADCs to penetrate
the blood brain barrier in vivo and produce potent catalytic
activity in vitro compared to the parental monoclonal antibody or
small molecule alone.
- Active
immunotherapy, ACI-24.060, induces anti-Abeta antibodies with
binding profiles mirroring clinically validated monoclonal
antibodies, presented by E. Fiorini, PhD (ACIU), featured results
from non-human primates showing that ACI-24.060 induced antibody
responses with preferential oligomeric Abeta binding as compared to
monomeric Abeta.
- Discovery and
preclinical development of [18F]ACI-19626, a first-in-class TDP-43
PET tracer, presented by T. Seredenina, PhD (ACIU), described the
selection of [18F]ACI-19626 as a potential PET tracer for detection
and monitoring progression of TDP-43 aggregates.
Analysis of Financial Statements for the
Quarter Ended September 30, 2024
- Cash
Position: The Company had a total cash balance of CHF
157.9 million (CHF 103.1 million as of December 31, 2023), composed
of CHF 32.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and CHF 125.5
million in short-term financial assets. The Company’s cash balance
plus the second Retain-related milestone payment of CHF 24.6
million, received in October 2024, provides sufficient capital
resources into 2027, assuming no other milestones.
- Contract
Revenues: The Company recorded CHF 25.5 million in
contract revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2024,
compared to nil in the comparable prior period. For the three
months ended September 30, 2024, our contract revenues of CHF 25.5
million were related to:
- the recognition
of the second Retain-related milestone payment of CHF 24.6 million
under the agreement with Janssen. This milestone payment was
triggered by the rapid rate of prescreening in the potentially
registrational Phase 2b Retain trial investigating
active-immunotherapy candidate ACI-35.030 to treat preclinical AD;
and
- the efforts made
under the agreement with Takeda.
- R&D
Expenditures: R&D expenses for the three months ended
September 30, 2024, were CHF 14.5 million compared to CHF 12.4
million in the comparable period in 2023. The increase was due
mainly to higher clinical expenses, driven by the expansion of the
ABATE study in our ACI-24.060 active immunotherapy.
- G&A
Expenditures: For the three months ended September 30,
2024, G&A increased by CHF 0.3 million to CHF 3.8 million,
mostly due to an increase in salaries and related costs, primarily
due to new hires and higher expenses from equity awards granted in
2024, which have a higher fair value.
- Other
Operating Income: The Company recognized less than CHF 0.1
million in grant income from Target ALS grants.
- IFRS
Income/Loss for the Period: The Company reported a net
income after taxes of CHF 5.5 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2024, compared with a net loss of CHF 15.1 million
for the comparable period in 2023.
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:
AC ImmuneGary Waanders, Ph.D., MBASenior Vice
President Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Phone:
+41 21 345 91 91Email: gary.waanders@acimmune.com |
U.S. InvestorsChristina Tartaglia Precision AQ
Phone: +1 332 322 7430Email:
christina.tartaglia@precisionaq.com |
|
International MediaChris MaggosCohesion
BureauPhone: +41 79 367 6254Email:
chris.maggos@cohesionbureau.com |
Forward looking statementsThis
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.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In CHF thousands)
|
|
As of |
|
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Assets |
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment |
|
2,736 |
|
3,376 |
Right-of-use assets |
|
3,091 |
|
3,508 |
Intangible asset |
|
50,416 |
|
50,416 |
Long-term financial assets |
|
415 |
|
361 |
Total
non-current assets |
|
56,658 |
|
57,661 |
Current
assets |
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
3,446 |
|
6,437 |
Accrued income |
|
780 |
|
246 |
Other current receivables |
|
869 |
|
622 |
Accounts receivable |
|
24,600 |
|
14,800 |
Short-term financial assets |
|
125,478 |
|
24,554 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
32,417 |
|
78,494 |
Total
current assets |
|
187,590 |
|
125,153 |
Total
assets |
|
244,248 |
|
182,814 |
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders' equity and liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Shareholders’ equity |
|
|
|
|
Share capital |
|
2,218 |
|
2,089 |
Share premium |
|
477,126 |
|
474,907 |
Treasury shares |
|
(218) |
|
(105) |
Currency translation differences |
|
(24) |
|
(51) |
Accumulated losses |
|
(348,937) |
|
(316,197) |
Total
shareholders’ equity |
|
130,165 |
|
160,643 |
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Long-term deferred contract revenue |
|
4,790 |
|
— |
Long-term lease liabilities |
|
2,389 |
|
2,825 |
Net employee defined benefit liabilities |
|
5,917 |
|
5,770 |
Total
non-current liabilities |
|
13,096 |
|
8,595 |
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
|
1,416 |
|
1,679 |
Accrued expenses |
|
12,899 |
|
11,087 |
Short-term deferred income |
|
16 |
|
138 |
Short-term deferred contract revenue |
|
85,962 |
|
— |
Short-term lease liabilities |
|
694 |
|
672 |
Total
current liabilities |
|
100,987 |
|
13,576 |
Total
liabilities |
|
114,083 |
|
22,171 |
Total
shareholders’ equity and liabilities |
|
244,248 |
|
182,814 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Income/(Loss) (Unaudited)
(In CHF thousands, except for per-share
data)
|
|
For the Three Months |
|
For the Nine Months |
|
|
Ended September 30, |
|
Ended September 30, |
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract revenues |
|
25,485 |
|
— |
|
26,172 |
|
— |
Total
revenue |
|
25,485 |
|
— |
|
26,172 |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research & development expenses |
|
(14,482) |
|
(12,407) |
|
(46,785) |
|
(39,962) |
General & administrative expenses |
|
(3,753) |
|
(3,465) |
|
(13,275) |
|
(11,252) |
Other operating income/(expense), net |
|
19 |
|
406 |
|
128 |
|
1,131 |
Total
operating expenses |
|
(18,216) |
|
(15,466) |
|
(59,932) |
|
(50,083) |
Operating income/(loss) |
|
7,269 |
|
(15,466) |
|
(33,760) |
|
(50,083) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial income |
|
939 |
|
285 |
|
2,307 |
|
753 |
Financial expense |
|
(33) |
|
(26) |
|
(103) |
|
(150) |
Exchange differences |
|
(2,672) |
|
67 |
|
(3,563) |
|
— |
Finance
result, net |
|
(1,766) |
|
326 |
|
(1,359) |
|
603 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income/(loss) before tax |
|
5,503 |
|
(15,140) |
|
(35,119) |
|
(49,480) |
Income tax
expense |
|
— |
|
(3) |
|
— |
|
(9) |
Income/(loss) for the period |
|
5,503 |
|
(15,143) |
|
(35,119) |
|
(49,489) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings/(loss)
per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
income/(loss) for the period attributable to equity holders |
|
0.06 |
|
(0.18) |
|
(0.35) |
|
(0.59) |
Diluted
income/(loss) for the period attributable to equity holders |
|
0.05 |
|
(0.18) |
|
(0.35) |
|
(0.59) |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Unaudited)(In CHF
thousands)
|
|
For the Three Months |
|
For the Nine Months |
|
|
Ended September 30, |
|
Ended September 30, |
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Income/(loss) for the period |
|
5,503 |
|
(15,143) |
|
(35,119) |
|
(49,489) |
Items that will
be reclassified to income or loss in subsequent periods (net of
tax): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currency
translation differences |
|
11 |
|
11 |
|
27 |
|
(5) |
Items that will
not to be reclassified to income or loss in subsequent periods (net
of tax): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remeasurement
gains on defined-benefit plans |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Other
comprehensive income/(loss) |
|
11 |
|
11 |
|
27 |
|
(5) |
Total
comprehensive income/(loss) (net of tax) |
|
5,514 |
|
(15,132) |
|
(35,092) |
|
(49,494) |
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