AC Immune starts enrolling patients for next Phase 2 trial of anti-Tau

• The antibody, called as MTAU9937A, RO7105705, is also being assessed by Genentech in a different Phase 2 trial
• Anti-Tau monoclonal antibody was detected and improved under the collaboration between AC Immune and Genentech

The Switzerland-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company AC Immune has reportedly declared that Genentech has commenced enrollment of patients for a second Phase 2 trial for an anti-Tau monoclonal antibody, called as MTAU9937A, RO7105705, developed to treat moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

As per trusted sources, the same antibody is also being assessed by Genentech in a different Phase 2 trial to measure it safety and efficacy in patients with prodromal-to-mild Alzheimer's disease.

Chief Executive Officer of AC Immune, Professor Andrea Pfeifer was reportedly quoted saying that the company is highly encouraged owing to the fact the Genentech is expanding its clinical assessment of AC Immune’s anti-Tau antibody. The interest to target Tau was recently shown by the company’s newest collaboration with Eli Lilly which was formed in early January to develop small molecule Tau MorphomerTM to treat Alzheimer’s, Pfeifer further added.

Reportedly, these projects demonstrate the scientific leadership of AC Immune in the field and are a significant part of its broad portfolio of three product candidates in Phase 2 clinical testing, an increasingly visible focus on early projects targeting neuro-inflammation and neuro-orphan indications, and additional diagnostics in clinical development.

According to a press release by AC Immune, the development of the monoclonal antibody is an important aspect of the partnership the company formed with Genentech in the year 2012 to market the monoclonal humanized antibodies against Tau protein. Reportedly, the monoclonal antibody was detected and improved under the collaboration between AC Immune and Genentech.

For the record, Tau pathology spreads with a distinctive spatiotemporal pattern in the brain, coinciding with both disease progression and clinical symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.