AC Immune SA expands its Tau Morphomer collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, securing CHF10M upfront to advance oral small-molecule candidates for Alzheimer’s disease.
Written By: Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
AC Immune SA, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, announced an amendment to its 2018 license and collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to continue research and development of Tau aggregation inhibitor small molecules for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The updated agreement extends the collaboration to include development of new lead Tau Morphomer® candidates and potential backup compounds.
The Morphomer Tau candidates are designed to enter the brain following oral dosing and selectively bind to pathological conformations of the Tau protein. According to AC Immune, preclinical data indicate these small molecules may inhibit Tau aggregation and seeding across disease stages, supporting their potential relevance for early intervention in neurodegenerative conditions.
Andrea Pfeifer CEO of AC Immune SA said the collaboration reflects progress in developing Morphomer small molecules targeting intracellular Tau. She noted that emerging scientific evidence suggests intracellular Tau targeting may slow or halt disease pathology. Pfeifer added that the companies plan to advance development and initiate investigational new drug (IND)–enabling studies in the near term.
Under the amended agreement, AC Immune will receive a CHF10 million upfront payment and an additional milestone payment upon Phase 1 dosing. The company also remains eligible for previously disclosed development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments exceeding CHF1.7 billion, along with tiered royalties in the low double-digit range.
The collaboration continues to focus on advancing orally available small-molecule therapies aimed at modifying Tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Reference
AC Immune Announces Amendment to Morphomer ® Tau License and Collaboration Agreement with Lilly, 07April 2026, https://ir.acimmune.com/news-releases/news-release-details/ac-immune-announces-amendment-morphomer-r-tau-license-and-0
About the Writer
Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD is a Pharm.D. graduate with a strong interest in clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and medical writing. In his words, he is passionate about converting complex medical information into clear, evidence-based scientific communication, committed to contributing to patient safety and advancing healthcare through accurate and impactful medical content.