AC Immune SA Updates Collaboration with Eli Lilly on Tau Morphomer Candidates
AC Immune SA, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced an amendment to its 2018 license and collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company on April 7, 2026, according to GlobeNewswire PE. The amendment focuses on researching and developing Tau aggregation inhibitor small molecules for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, continuing work on new lead Tau Morphomer candidates and potential back-up compounds.
Details of the Amendment
Under the amendment, AC Immune will receive a CHF10 million upfront payment and a subsequent milestone payment tied to Phase 1 dosing, in addition to milestones from a prior amendment. AC Immune is eligible for further development, regulatory, and commercial milestones totaling over CHF1.7 billion, plus tiered royalty payments in the low double digits, as previously disclosed. Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, stated that the collaboration highlights breakthroughs in Morphomer small molecules for targeting Tau, with plans to initiate Investigational New Drug-enabling studies imminently.
Company and Technology Background
AC Immune SA pioneers precision therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases using its SupraAntigen and Morphomer technology platforms, which support a pipeline including therapeutic and diagnostic programs in Phase 2 and Phase 3 development. The Morphomer Tau candidates were selected for their ability to enter the brain orally and bind specifically to pathological Tau protein conformations, with preclinical data indicating potential for inhibiting Tau aggregation across disease stages, according to GlobeNewswire PE. As a global leader in this field, AC Immune has secured strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies.
Implications for Neurodegenerative Research
This amendment exemplifies AC Immune’s work toward precision prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, with scientific evidence suggesting that targeting intracellular Tau could slow pathology. Widely known in the biopharmaceutical sector, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s affect millions globally, and such collaborations often involve significant investments in research.
