Fenwick & West LLP represented Swiss biotech AC Immune SA in their second worldwide license agreement and research collaboration with Genentech for the research, development and commercialization of AC Immune's anti-Tau antibodies for the treatment of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. According to the two companies, this second deal made between them could potentially be worth about $418 million. AC Immune will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible to receive research, development and commercialization milestone payments. AC Immune will work with Genentech to identify and formulate pre-clinical drug candidates, and Genentech will be responsible for pre-clinical and clinical development and manufacturing and commercializing any antibodies that spin out of the deal.
The partnership between AC Immune and Genentech is centered on AC Immune's anti-Tau antibodies. Tau is a protein that forms fibers that become twisted and tangled inside a brain cell and are considered by many in the scientific community to be a major cause of Alzheimer's disease.
The Fenwick transaction team was led by intellectual property partner Jake Handy.