AC Immune’s anti-amyloid-beta vaccine candidate ACI-24.060 has, according to interim data from the Phase Ib/II ABATE trial, been found to be safe and effective in eliciting an antibody response in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This exciting news offers hope for those who suffer from this debilitating condition, as it may provide a viable treatment option.
AC Immune is expanding the ABATE trial, enrolling patients with Down Syndrome and launching the second, higher-dose Alzheimer’s cohort of the trial. They hope to gain further insight into the development of Alzheimer’s and other related diseases, as well as to explore the potential of their innovative therapy.
The ACI-24.060 study, known as ABATE, is a groundbreaking clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity of a new drug. This innovative trial uses a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled methodology to ensure accurate results. With the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry, ABATE is an exciting development in medical research.
The groundbreaking trial is split into two parts. The first part is designed to help those suffering from the early effects of Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s. The second part focuses on those with Down Syndrome, who are at an increased risk of developing the debilitating disease. With this trial, researchers are hoping to bring better treatments and solutions for those affected by Alzheimer’s.
AC Immune is proud to announce the inclusion of Down Syndrome patients in the ABATE trial, an unprecedented step that will make it possible to address the critical, unmet medical needs of this underserved population. Nearly all Down Syndrome patients develop amyloid plaques and Alzheimer’s Disease, making this an especially important step forward in unlocking treatments for this population. According Dr. Johannes Streffer, Chief Medical Officer at AC Immune, this is a major milestone that could lead to potentially life-changing breakthroughs.
In October 2022, AC Immune made a breakthrough in Down Syndrome research – their anti-amyloid-beta vaccine proved to be safe and effective, eliciting an increase in IgG levels without causing any serious side effects, such as meningoencephalitis, death, or imaging-related abnormalities. This is a major advancement in the field of Down Syndrome research, and could potentially lead to improved quality of life for those affected by the condition.
ACI-24.060, an innovative candidate derived from our proprietary SupraAntigen design platform, has been designed to generate a wide range of antibodies to help protect against various threats. This groundbreaking discovery offers an exciting new opportunity for advanced protection against pathogens.
ACI-24.060, an investigational vaccine, may be a potential game-changer for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. If successful, it could inhibit the formation of amyloid plaques, which are the main cause of Alzheimer’s, and facilitate the clearance of these plaques when they arise. This could slow or even stop the progression of Alzheimer’s, offering much-needed hope to those suffering from this devastating condition.
A Buzz Around Amyloid
The biopharma industry has been abuzz since the groundbreaking Phase III study results of Biogen and Eisai’s lecanemab last September 2022. The drug demonstrated its incredible potential in significantly slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s, giving hope to patients and their families that an anti-amyloid treatment may be on the horizon.
The FDA recently gave the greenlight to lecanemab, which is now available on the market as Leqembi, thanks to its accelerated approval pathway. With this exciting development, patients in need of this drug have access to a new, potentially life-saving treatment.
Hot on the heels of Biogen and Eisai, Eli Lilly is quickly making waves in the Alzheimer’s space. Its investigational antibody donanemab has shown promising results, outperforming Aduhelm (aducanumab), which was also developed by Biogen and Eisai, in the industry’s first active-comparator study. These results mark a major milestone in the fight against Alzheimer’s and open up a world of possibilities for treatment.
Last week, the FDA dashed the hopes of patients suffering from early Alzheimer’s disease, denying donanemab accelerated approval due to a lack of evidence for efficacy and the need for more data.
Though the rejection may be disappointing to some, many experts believe the FDA made the right decision in this case. They argue that the agency’s refusal could potentially save lives and lead to improved health outcomes. By taking this action, the FDA is showing that it is committed to public safety and taking decisive steps to ensure the safety of the public.
Sharon L. Rogers, CEO of AmyriAD and an Alzheimer’s expert, has noted that while donanemab has shown to clear amyloid plaques from patients’ brains, there is still not enough evidence to demonstrate a direct connection between this and cognitive improvements.
Looking ahead, future studies in the field must strive to show significant improvements in patient function and quality of life, thus prompting a shift in the way we approach healthcare. It is essential that we continue to explore the potential of this field in order to enhance the lives of those affected by these conditions.