AC Immune Secures Funding From BioNTech Investors, Buys Parkinson's Vaccine Candidate

AC Immune SA ACIU has gained a multi-million investment from the principal backers of BioNTech SE BNTX while acquiring a possible Parkinson's disease vaccine.
It announced a $25 million private share placement with a group of investors led by Athos Service GmbH. Some of the placement was also picked up by First Capital Partner GmbH.
Another lead BioNTech investor, MIG Fonds, is becoming an AC Immune shareholder via its prior ownership in Affiris AG.
AC Immune is buying a portfolio of therapeutics including Affiris PD01, a vaccine candidate for treating Parkinson's, from Affiris in an all-stock deal worth $58.7 million.
AC Immune is getting assets and intellectual property linked to vaccine candidates that focus on alpha-synuclein, a protein tied to Parkinson's, plus $5 million in cash for 7.1 million shares.
In total, AC Immune is issuing 10.1 million shares in conjunction with the acquisition and related financing in exchange for assets worth $53.7 million and $30 million in cash, it said.
AC Immune plans to immediately launch clinical development of acquired vaccine into Phase 2 study in Parkinson's disease.
Price Action: ACIU shares are up 2.53% at $7.30 during the premarket session on the last check Tuesday.