AC Immune Presents New ALS Study Data
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 22 2026
0mins
AC Immune SA announced the presentation of new preliminary data from a Phase 1 trial of its first-in-class TDP-43 positron emission tomography tracer ACI-19626 showing increased uptake in the brains of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The results presented at the 2026 TDP43 Summit in Madison, Wisconsin, demonstrate that PET scans with ACI-19626 showed tracer uptake significantly higher in key regions of the brain in patients with ALS compared to healthy controls. Specifically, tracer uptake was higher in the brain stem and precentral gyrus, where TDP-43 pathology is expected to accumulate based on post-mortem neuropathology studies and on clinical symptoms. Previously reported data showed significantly higher tracer uptake in disease-relevant subcortical and cortical regions in patients with genetic frontotemporal dementia.
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About ACIU
AC Immune SA is a Switzerland-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company focuses on precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases. It designs, discovers and develops therapeutic, as well as diagnostic products for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by misfolding proteins. Its SupraAntigen and Morphomer technology platforms to create antibodies, small molecules and vaccines designed to address a broad range of neurodegenerative indications, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Company's pipeline includes nine therapeutic product candidates with five in clinical trials, and three diagnostic candidates. Its lead product candidate is Crenezumab, a humanized and monoclonal anti-Abeta antibody for Alzheimer’s disease. It has collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, including Roche/Genentech, Eli Lilly, Biogen, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Nestle Institute of Health Sciences, Life Molecular Imaging (formerly Piramal Imaging) and Essex Bio-Technology.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
AC Immune Releases New ALS Biomarker Data from Phase 1 Trial
- Clinical Trial Progress: AC Immune SA presented preliminary data on the TDP43-PET tracer ACI-19626 at the 2026 Summit Advancing TDP43 Biomarkers, indicating higher uptake in ALS patients, suggesting its potential in diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases.
- Biomarker Exploration: TDP-43 is a key component associated with diseases like frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the development of the ACI-19626 tracer aims to visualize TDP-43 markers via PET scanning, providing new solutions for complex disease diagnoses.
- Trial Design: The Phase 1 trial for ACI-19626 consists of two parts, with the first part involving healthy patients and the second enrolling up to 30 patients with FTD, ALS, and LATE, where preliminary results show significantly higher tracer uptake in ALS patients, validating the effectiveness of the PET data.
- Pharmacokinetic Profile: The study also established the pharmacokinetic profile of ACI-19626, confirming its suitability for human brain imaging, laying the groundwork for future clinical applications.
See More
AC Immune's ACI-19626 Shows Higher PET Uptake in ALS Patients
- Clinical Trial Data: At the 2026 TDP43 Summit, AC Immune presented Phase 1 trial data for its first-in-class TDP-43 PET tracer ACI-19626, demonstrating significantly higher tracer uptake in the brains of ALS patients compared to healthy controls, particularly in key regions like the brain stem and precentral gyrus, indicating the drug's potential for early diagnosis in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Safety and Tolerability: ACI-19626 exhibited good safety and tolerability during the trial, with a dosimetry profile within accepted limits, and rapid brain uptake and washout suggest a pharmacokinetic profile suitable for human brain imaging and pharmacodynamic analysis targeting TDP-43 pathology.
- Precision Medicine Outlook: The study results underscore the importance of precision medicine for early diagnosis and intervention in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, with CEO Andrea Pfeifer emphasizing that early diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention, further validating the promise of the company's technology.
- Future Research Plans: The ongoing Phase 1 trial has completed studies in healthy volunteers and patients with genetic frontotemporal dementia, with a second phase expansion now underway, potentially including up to 30 patients with ALS, FTD, or LATE, showcasing the company's continued investment and development in the neurodegenerative disease space.
See More
AC Immune CEO Andrea Pfeifer to Retire After 23 Years
- Leadership Transition: AC Immune co-founder and CEO Andrea Pfeifer will retire at the upcoming annual general meeting, concluding her 23-year tenure, which signifies a pivotal change in the company's governance structure.
- Interim Leadership: Board Chair Martin Zügel will assume the role of interim CEO, tasked with maintaining operational stability and strategic direction while the company searches for a permanent successor, ensuring business continuity during this transition.
- Continued Involvement: Although Pfeifer is retiring, she will remain involved as an advisor, honorary chair of the board, and co-chair of the scientific advisory board, allowing her extensive industry experience to continue influencing the company's strategic decisions.
- Future Prospects: AC Immune is actively seeking a new CEO to drive ongoing innovation and growth in the neurodegenerative disease drug development space, particularly in advancing key projects like ACI-7104.
See More
AC Immune Reports Improved Q1 Financials and Pipeline Updates
- Improved Financial Performance: AC Immune reported a net loss of CHF 14.8 million for Q1, narrowing from CHF 19.0 million in the same period last year, primarily due to reduced R&D expenses, indicating effective cost management.
- Reduced R&D Expenses: The R&D expenses for the quarter were CHF 11.8 million, down from CHF 15.9 million last year, which not only alleviates financial pressure but also provides more flexibility for future research investments.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The company completed dosing of the final cohort in the ABATE trial for Alzheimer's disease, making it eligible for a $12 million milestone payment from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which will support further research funding.
- New Drug Development Updates: The Morphomer Tau small molecule program with Eli Lilly has advanced, with eligibility for a CHF 10 million upfront payment and up to CHF 1.7 billion in milestone payments, highlighting the project's market potential and commercial value.
See More
AC Immune Revises Collaboration Agreement with Eli Lilly
- Collaboration Agreement Revision: AC Immune has amended its collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly, which will pay 10 million Swiss francs ($12.5 million) as an upfront payment, demonstrating confidence in AC Immune's development of treatments for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- Significant Potential Revenue: If AC Immune successfully develops a drug and meets clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones, total payments could exceed 1.7 billion Swiss francs ($2.1 billion), significantly enhancing the company's financial position and market standing.
- Clinical Trial Progress: CEO Andrea Pfeifer indicated that the company expects to initiate Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies imminently, marking a new stage in its development that could accelerate the path to market for new therapies.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following this favorable collaboration news, AC Immune's stock surged nearly 15% on Tuesday, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects and increasing its visibility in the biotech sector.
See More
AC Immune Amends Collaboration Agreement with Eli Lilly
- Agreement Amendment: AC Immune has amended its 2018 collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly, continuing to cover R&D efforts for the new class of neurology therapies, Morphomer Tau, indicating ongoing partnership in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
- Increased Funding: The amendment allows AC Immune to receive an upfront payment of CHF 10 million and a milestone payment upon the start of Phase 1 dosing, providing crucial financial support for its R&D efforts and enhancing its financial stability.
- R&D Timeline: AC Immune plans to initiate investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies in H1 2026, establishing a timeline that will bolster the company's competitive position in the neurodegenerative disease treatment market.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the agreement amendment, AC Immune's stock price rose, reflecting investor optimism regarding the company's future R&D potential, which may attract more investor interest in its innovative capabilities within the biotech sector.
See More
AC Immune Releases New ALS Biomarker Data from Phase 1 Trial
- Clinical Trial Progress: AC Immune SA presented preliminary data on the TDP43-PET tracer ACI-19626 at the 2026 Summit Advancing TDP43 Biomarkers, indicating higher uptake in ALS patients, suggesting its potential in diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases.
- Biomarker Exploration: TDP-43 is a key component associated with diseases like frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the development of the ACI-19626 tracer aims to visualize TDP-43 markers via PET scanning, providing new solutions for complex disease diagnoses.
- Trial Design: The Phase 1 trial for ACI-19626 consists of two parts, with the first part involving healthy patients and the second enrolling up to 30 patients with FTD, ALS, and LATE, where preliminary results show significantly higher tracer uptake in ALS patients, validating the effectiveness of the PET data.
- Pharmacokinetic Profile: The study also established the pharmacokinetic profile of ACI-19626, confirming its suitability for human brain imaging, laying the groundwork for future clinical applications.
See More
AC Immune's ACI-19626 Shows Higher PET Uptake in ALS Patients
- Clinical Trial Data: At the 2026 TDP43 Summit, AC Immune presented Phase 1 trial data for its first-in-class TDP-43 PET tracer ACI-19626, demonstrating significantly higher tracer uptake in the brains of ALS patients compared to healthy controls, particularly in key regions like the brain stem and precentral gyrus, indicating the drug's potential for early diagnosis in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Safety and Tolerability: ACI-19626 exhibited good safety and tolerability during the trial, with a dosimetry profile within accepted limits, and rapid brain uptake and washout suggest a pharmacokinetic profile suitable for human brain imaging and pharmacodynamic analysis targeting TDP-43 pathology.
- Precision Medicine Outlook: The study results underscore the importance of precision medicine for early diagnosis and intervention in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, with CEO Andrea Pfeifer emphasizing that early diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention, further validating the promise of the company's technology.
- Future Research Plans: The ongoing Phase 1 trial has completed studies in healthy volunteers and patients with genetic frontotemporal dementia, with a second phase expansion now underway, potentially including up to 30 patients with ALS, FTD, or LATE, showcasing the company's continued investment and development in the neurodegenerative disease space.
See More
AC Immune CEO Andrea Pfeifer to Retire After 23 Years
- Leadership Transition: AC Immune co-founder and CEO Andrea Pfeifer will retire at the upcoming annual general meeting, concluding her 23-year tenure, which signifies a pivotal change in the company's governance structure.
- Interim Leadership: Board Chair Martin Zügel will assume the role of interim CEO, tasked with maintaining operational stability and strategic direction while the company searches for a permanent successor, ensuring business continuity during this transition.
- Continued Involvement: Although Pfeifer is retiring, she will remain involved as an advisor, honorary chair of the board, and co-chair of the scientific advisory board, allowing her extensive industry experience to continue influencing the company's strategic decisions.
- Future Prospects: AC Immune is actively seeking a new CEO to drive ongoing innovation and growth in the neurodegenerative disease drug development space, particularly in advancing key projects like ACI-7104.
See More
AC Immune Reports Improved Q1 Financials and Pipeline Updates
- Improved Financial Performance: AC Immune reported a net loss of CHF 14.8 million for Q1, narrowing from CHF 19.0 million in the same period last year, primarily due to reduced R&D expenses, indicating effective cost management.
- Reduced R&D Expenses: The R&D expenses for the quarter were CHF 11.8 million, down from CHF 15.9 million last year, which not only alleviates financial pressure but also provides more flexibility for future research investments.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The company completed dosing of the final cohort in the ABATE trial for Alzheimer's disease, making it eligible for a $12 million milestone payment from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which will support further research funding.
- New Drug Development Updates: The Morphomer Tau small molecule program with Eli Lilly has advanced, with eligibility for a CHF 10 million upfront payment and up to CHF 1.7 billion in milestone payments, highlighting the project's market potential and commercial value.
See More
AC Immune Revises Collaboration Agreement with Eli Lilly
- Collaboration Agreement Revision: AC Immune has amended its collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly, which will pay 10 million Swiss francs ($12.5 million) as an upfront payment, demonstrating confidence in AC Immune's development of treatments for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- Significant Potential Revenue: If AC Immune successfully develops a drug and meets clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones, total payments could exceed 1.7 billion Swiss francs ($2.1 billion), significantly enhancing the company's financial position and market standing.
- Clinical Trial Progress: CEO Andrea Pfeifer indicated that the company expects to initiate Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies imminently, marking a new stage in its development that could accelerate the path to market for new therapies.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following this favorable collaboration news, AC Immune's stock surged nearly 15% on Tuesday, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects and increasing its visibility in the biotech sector.
See More
AC Immune Amends Collaboration Agreement with Eli Lilly
- Agreement Amendment: AC Immune has amended its 2018 collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly, continuing to cover R&D efforts for the new class of neurology therapies, Morphomer Tau, indicating ongoing partnership in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
- Increased Funding: The amendment allows AC Immune to receive an upfront payment of CHF 10 million and a milestone payment upon the start of Phase 1 dosing, providing crucial financial support for its R&D efforts and enhancing its financial stability.
- R&D Timeline: AC Immune plans to initiate investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies in H1 2026, establishing a timeline that will bolster the company's competitive position in the neurodegenerative disease treatment market.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the agreement amendment, AC Immune's stock price rose, reflecting investor optimism regarding the company's future R&D potential, which may attract more investor interest in its innovative capabilities within the biotech sector.
See More
