AC Immune and Lilly Expand Tau-Targeting Collaboration with CHF 10 Million Amendment for Alzheimer's Disease
Key Insights
AC Immune SA and Eli Lilly amended their 2018 collaboration agreement to advance Tau aggregation inhibitor small molecules for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The amendment includes a CHF 10 million upfront payment and potential milestones exceeding CHF 1.7 billion, with IND-enabling studies planned for the first half of 2026.
Morphomer Tau candidates demonstrate oral bioavailability and specific binding to pathological Tau protein conformations, with preclinical data supporting their potential to inhibit aggregation across disease stages.
AC Immune SA and Eli Lilly and Company have amended their 2018 license and collaboration agreement to advance the development of Tau aggregation inhibitor small molecules for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. The Swiss biopharmaceutical company announced on April 7, 2026, that the amendment continues research and collaboration to cover development of new lead Tau Morphomer candidates and potential back-up compounds.
Financial Terms and Development Timeline
Under the amended agreement, AC Immune will receive a CHF 10 million upfront payment and a subsequent milestone payment with Phase 1 dosing, in addition to milestones announced in a prior amendment. The company remains eligible for further development, regulatory and commercial milestones of over CHF 1.7 billion, plus tiered percentage royalty payments in the low double digits.
AC Immune expects to initiate Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies in the first half of 2026, marking a significant step toward clinical development of these novel therapeutics.
Morphomer Technology Platform
The Morphomer Tau candidates were specifically selected for their ability to enter the brain when dosed orally and for their specific binding to the targeted pathological conformation of the Tau protein. AC Immune has generated strong preclinical data suggesting that Tau Morphomers should be clinically relevant for inhibiting aggregation and seeding across pathological and disease stages.
Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: "The progress in this collaboration highlights the important breakthroughs we have made with Morphomer small molecules for intracellular targeting of Tau. We look forward to working with the team at Lilly to drive forward the development of these potentially disruptive small molecule therapeutics for early-stage treatment and long-term prevention of neurodegenerative diseases."
Scientific Rationale for Tau Targeting
The amendment reflects growing excitement in the field for targeting intracellular Tau, with increasing scientific evidence suggesting that this approach can slow or even completely halt the pathology associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Pfeifer noted that "increasingly, the scientific evidence suggests that targeting intracellular Tau can slow or even completely halt the pathology."
This collaboration exemplifies AC Immune's work towards precision prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, positioning the company as a leader in developing therapeutics that could potentially prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
Company Profile and Strategic Partnerships
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 pipeline of first- and best-in-class assets, which currently features a range of therapeutic and diagnostic programs, including candidates in Phase 2 and Phase 3 development.
The company has established 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 more than $4.5 billion in potential milestone payments plus royalties.