AC Immune Awarded Grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

The research project aims to develop brain imaging agents for alpha-synuclein, a key protein involved in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease. Such an alpha-synuclein-PET imaging agent will help diagnose the disease earlier and more accurately, enable tracking of pathology over time, and monitor the efficacy of therapeutics in reducing alpha-synuclein aggregates. Using its proprietary Morphomer chemistry technology platform, designed to interact with the basic process of protein misfolding, AC Immune has identified promising small molecule compounds with good selectivity for alpha-synuclein and promising properties as PET ligands. The grant will allow AC Immune to develop a lead compound with suitable characteristics that could rapidly enter into clinical development.

Prof. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune, said: “We are extremely pleased to receive this grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation. This represents further validation of AC Immune’s capacity and expertise in developing both diagnostic and therapeutic agents for multiple neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. While maintaining a sharp focus on Alzheimer’s disease we continue to leverage our key technology platforms to expand our pipeline to other neurodegenerative diseases based on our deep experience in this field.”

“The development of an alpha-synuclein imaging agent would be transformative for Parkinson's disease research and drug development. The AC Immune program is making promising progress toward that achievement,” commented Jamie Eberling, PhD, senior associate director of research programs at MJFF.

About alpha-synuclein-PET tracers
A brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test of the brain involving an imaging device and an imaging agent called a PET tracer. No alpha-synuclein-PET tracer has received regulatory approval for commercial distribution, which represents a huge medical need, not only in Parkinson’s disease but also in other synucleinopathies such as multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies. Once the alpha-synuclein-PET tracer is introduced to the body, it transiently enters the brain, binds to abnormal alpha-synuclein protein structures (Lewy bodies). Through the radio-tracer on the tracer molecule, the imaging device detects the bound alpha-synuclein imaging agent and creates pictures reflecting the amount and distribution of pathological alpha-synuclein in the brain.