GlobeNewswire·Dec 23, 2025, 8:01 AM ET

Vaccinex, Inc. Announces $60 million Agreement to Finance a Phase 2b clinical trial of pepinemab to treat Alzheimer's Disease

Vaccinex, Inc. entered a $60 million revenue sharing agreement with Pepinemab Development Venture, LP (PDV) to fund an enlarged Phase 2b clinical trial of pepinemab for Alzheimer's disease.
PDV, an investment entity established by FCMI, will receive 50% of future economic proceeds from pepinemab development partners for neurological indications & 25% for other indications.
Prior animal & clinical data indicate pepinemab blocks astrocyte-microglia crosstalk, preserves brain vascular integrity, & downregulates AD-related proteins like SNAP25 & GAP-43.
Results from a Phase 2 Huntington's study & the SIGNAL-AD Phase 1/2a trial in Mild Cognitive Impairment & mild Alzheimer's suggest pepinemab is well-tolerated & slows cognitive decline when administered early.
Research led by Dr. Philip De Jager identified a genetic signature of Ast10 astrocytes linked to cognitive decline, with the SEMA4D-PLXNB1 pathway regulating this subset.
Pepinemab treatment reduced Ast10 cell representation in the brain, which correlates with slowed cognitive decline relative to placebo controls, data reported at the CTAD Conference on December 3, 2025.
Vaccinex continues to pioneer SEMA4D inhibition to treat neurodegenerative diseases by blocking a pathogenic pathway driven by astrocyte reactivity.