AC Immune, a Swiss clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm, has launched two clinical milestone events related to ACI-24, its anti-Abeta vaccine against Alzheimer's disease and Abeta-related cognitive decline in Down Syndrome, it was reported yesterday.

The company has commenced the phase two study with the product in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study with an adaptive design is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, target engagement, biomarkers and clinical efficacy of the product.

The trial will seek to confirm the positive trends on Abeta PET imaging and clinical measurement of the earlier Phase one safety study. The Phase two trial will be conducted in several European countries and the first patients have been screened. The company has completed recruitment for the high-dose cohort of the ACI-24 Phase°1b study for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease-like characteristics in adults with Down Syndrome, a condition affecting approximately one in 700 new-borns.