- AC Immune to draw on WuXi Biologics' expertise in
manufacturing innovative New Biological Entities against CNS
disorders including proprietary WuXiUP continuous manufacturing
platform that can significantly reduce cost of biologics
- AC Immune to gain access to WuXi Biologics' proprietary
discovery platforms including the
WuXiBody™ Platform used for the generation of
bispecific antibodies
- WuXi Biologics to become a preferred partner for bioprocess
development and manufacturing
SHANGHAI and LAUSANNE,
Switzerland, Dec. 19, 2018
/PRNewswire/ -- WuXi Biologics (2269.HK), a leading global
open-access biologics technology platform company that offers
end-to-end solutions for biologics discovery, development and
manufacturing and AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a Swiss-based,
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a broad pipeline
focused on neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the first
steps of an exclusive strategic collaboration that covers biologics
discovery, development and manufacturing.
AC Immune and WuXi Biologics have entered into a memorandum of
understanding governing the terms of a preferred partnership
allowing AC Immune to leverage WuXi Biologics' capacities and
capabilities in the manufacturing and supply of traditional and
innovative New Biological Entities (NBE) against disorders of the
central nervous system (CNS). Through this collaboration, AC Immune
would have priority access to WuXi Biologics' proprietary
platforms, including the bispecific antibody platform WuXiBody™ and
WuXiUP continuous manufacturing platform. In addition, WuXi
Biologics would become a preferred partner of AC Immune for
bioprocesss development, as well as manufacturing for discovery,
pre-clinical and clinical supply of AC Immune's NBE pipeline.
Under the same agreement, the companies would explore the use of
AC Immune's platform to treat non-CNS diseases by identifying areas
where AC Immune's antibody discovery platform could generate
superior novel candidates. In addition, WuXi Vaccines, the vaccine
arm of WuXi Biologics, would
explore enabling the application of AC Immune's vaccine portfolio
in China.
Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC
Immune SA, commented: "I am very happy to work with WuXi Biologics
and proud to form the basis for a partnership with such an esteemed
partner in China. AC Immune aims
to become a global leader in precision medicine of
neurodegenerative diseases and in getting closer to develop a
therapy against Alzheimer's disease, in
which China plays an
important role."
Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi
Biologics commented: "We are excited about finalizing this
exclusive and comprehensive partnership and are pleased to enable
AC Immune which has proven itself as a global leader in CNS
diseases by partnering with Genentech and Lilly. Our comprehensive
partnership would include discovery, development and manufacturing
of multiple biologics and vaccine modalities including bispecific
antibodies through our proprietary WuXiBody™ Platform. This platform coupled with WuXiUP tackles
technical hurdles of conventional bispecific platforms and
tremendously reduces the cost of making these biologics, which is
critical for success of biologics in treating CNS disorders. We
will continue to invest in developing next-generation globally
leading technologies to enable global
clients and transform biologics discovery, development and
manufacturing. Together with global partners like AC Immune
we are developing and manufacturing life-saving biologics to
benefit patients around the world."
About AC Immune SA
AC Immune SA is a clinical-stage Swiss-based biopharmaceutical
company, listed on NASDAQ, which aims to become a global leader in
precision medicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases. The Company
designs, discovers and develops therapeutic as well as diagnostic
products intended to prevent and modify diseases caused by
misfolding proteins. AC Immune's two proprietary technology
platforms create antibodies, small molecules and vaccines designed
to address a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative indications, such
as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Company's pipeline features nine
therapeutic and three diagnostic product candidates – with five
product candidates currently in clinical trials. The most advanced
of these is crenezumab, a humanized anti-beta-amyloid monoclonal IgG4 antibody
that targets monomeric and aggregated forms of beta-amyloid, with highest affinity for
neurotoxic oligomers. Crenezumab is currently in two Phase 3
clinical studies for AD, under a global program conducted by
collaboration partner Roche/Genentech. Other collaborations include
Eli Lilly, Biogen, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Nestlé Institute of
Health Sciences, Life Molecular Imaging (formerly Piramal Imaging)
and Essex Bio-Technology. For more information on AC Immune SA,
please visit http://www.acimmune.com/.
About WuXi Biologics
WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, is the only
open-access biologics technology platform in the world offering
end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop
and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing.
Our company history and achievements demonstrate our commitment to
providing a truly ONE-stop service offering and value proposition
to our global clients. As of June 30,
2018, there were a total of 187 integrated projects,
including 98 projects in pre-clinical development stage, 78
projects in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development, 10
projects in late-phase (phase III) development and 1 project in
commercial manufacturing. With total estimated capacity of
biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, Singapore and US reaching 220,000 liters by
2021, we will provide our biomanufacturing partners with a robust
and premier-quality global supply chain network. For more
information on WuXi Biologics, please visit
www.wuxibiologics.com.
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SOURCE WuXi Biologics