Exhibit 99.1
Annexon Presents New Neuroprotection Data Showing ANX007 Protects Vision and Vision-Associated Structures in Geographic Atrophy at ARVO 2024 Annual Meeting
ANX007 demonstrated significant, broad-based protection from vision loss in foveal and non-foveal patients, and in low light settings
ANX007 protected key retinal structures important for vision: significant reduction of photoreceptor loss and meaningful slowing of lesion growth measured by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) loss in the fovea
C1q blockade protected photoreceptor synapses and preserved retinal function in preclinical model, supporting the mechanistic understanding of ANX007 in preserving synaptic structures and visual function
Initiation of Global Pivotal Phase 3 ARCHER II Trial vs. Sham Control Expected mid-2024; Initiation of Pivotal Phase 3 Head-to-head ARROW Trial vs. SYFOVRE® Expected Second Half 2024
BRISBANE, Calif., May 7, 2024 - Annexon, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANNX), a biopharmaceutical company advancing a late-stage clinical platform of novel therapies for people living with devastating classical complement-mediated neuroinflammatory diseases of the body, brain, and eye, today presented new analyses of ANX007 from the Phase 2 ARCHER trial in geographic atrophy (GA), and new preclinical data on the role of C1q in the pathogenic elimination of photoreceptor synapses and their protection with C1q blockade in GA. ANX007 is a first-in-class, non-pegylated antigen-binding fragment (Fab) designed to block C1q and activation of the classical complement cascade locally in the eye with an intravitreal formulation, and is the first therapeutic candidate for the treatment of GA to receive Priority Medicine (PRIME) designation by the European Medicines Agency. The data were presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2024 Annual Meeting.
“We are pleased to present additional clinical data from the ARCHER trial that are the first to show preservation of both vision and relevant anatomical structures following ANX007 treatment,” said Douglas Love, president and chief executive officer of Annexon. “These data combined with our robust preclinical work underscore the potential of ANX007’s neuroprotective mechanism of action to protect photoreceptor synapses and visual function and deliver differentiated functional benefit for millions of patients. We look forward to advancing ANX007 into registrational Phase 3 trials in GA expected to initiate by mid- and second half of 2024.”
“These new data reinforce the impressive vision preservation observed with ANX007 treatment in GA which is demonstrated by multiple measures of visual acuity, including in foveal and non-foveal patients and in low light settings,” said David Boyer, M.D., Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group, California. “Importantly, the statistically significant preservation of photoreceptor anatomy measured by ellipsoid zone change highlights protection of key retinal structures associated with vision. Moreover, protection of the RPE was more robust in lesions near the fovea, a region highly correlated with visual acuity, while slowing of overall RPE loss as a lagging indicator was more pronounced over time. These encouraging findings along with the generally well-tolerated safety profile with no incidence of vasculitis hold promise to impact loss of visual acuity within the current treatment landscape.”