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.
