28 August 2024 | Wednesday | News
Picture Courtesy | Public Domain
AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that its partner Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) has received Fast Track Designation for the Tau positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic, [18F]PI-2620, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in three neurodegenerative conditions.
Fast Track designation for [18F]PI-2620 has been granted for clinical development in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD).
The FDA’s Fast Track program is designed to accelerate the development and review of drugs that address serious conditions and fulfill unmet medical needs. This designation underscores the broadening view in the medical community that early and accurate diagnoses of neurodegenerative disease may lead to improved outcomes, thanks to emerging treatments.
PI-2620 is a next-generation PET imaging agent currently in Phase 3 clinical development for detecting Tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. The compound is also being investigated in other neurodegenerative diseases by many academic researchers and in drug development trials. Tau proteins are a hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders including AD, PSP, CBD, and frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD), and accurately imaging the pathology could significantly enhance disease diagnosis and improve patient care.
Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented: “Fast Track designation for PI-2620 is an important reflection of its potential to accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Early diagnosis of these conditions will be key for effective treatment before irreversible damage occurs, and is an essential element in our goal of achieving precision prevention. The FDA has previously granted Fast Track status to two of our active immunotherapies in Phase 2 development, ACI-35.030 and ACI-24.060, which target phospho-Tau and Abeta, respectively. The designation for PI-2620 is a further recognition of AC Immune’s drug discovery and development platform and of how we, together with our partners, continue to drive innovation.”
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