AC Immune has entered into a worldwide exclusive license agreement and research collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals,to develop and commercialise therapeutic anti-Tau vaccines for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and potentially other tauopathies.

Janssen Research & Development, an affiliate of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, will further develop the lead therapeutic vaccine, ACI-35, that is currently in a phase Ib clinical trial in Alzheimer's patients. ACI-35 is an active therapeutic vaccine stimulating the patient's immune system to produce a polyclonal antibody response against phosphorylated Tau protein.

Under the terms of the agreement, AC Immune will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive research, development and commercialization milestone payments potentially totaling up to $509 million (CHF 500 million) for Alzheimer´s disease and a potential second indication outside of Alzheimer´s disease.

Additionally, the company is eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales for any approved products resulting from the collaboration.

AC Immune and Janssen will co-develop ACI-35 through phase Ib completion. As of phase II and onward, Janssen will assume responsibility for the clinical development, manufacturing and commercialisation of ACI-35. Additionally, the two companies have entered a three year joint research collaboration to further characterise and develop novel vaccine therapies for the treatment of tauopathies.

"This is our third major collaboration with pharmaceutical partners involving the Tau protein and underscores the strength of our technology platforms for targeting proteinopathies and our success in bringing to the clinic Tau and Abeta therapies and diagnostics," said Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune.