AFFiRiS

AFFiRiS is an Austrian biotechnology company pioneering a vaccine-like immunotherapy platform, AFFITOME®, to treat chronic diseases by targeting pathological proteins. Its most advanced programs target alpha-synuclein for Parkinson's disease and PCSK9 for hypercholesterolemia, with multiple assets having reached Phase 1 clinical trials. The company operates as a private entity, advancing its pipeline through strategic partnerships and out-licensing deals, such as the acquisition of its alpha-synuclein programs by AC Immune in 2021.

Proprietary AFFITOME® technology for developing Specific Active Immunotherapies (SAIT). It uses short peptide sequences (AFFITOPEs®) that mimic disease-associated protein epitopes to induce a sustained, target-specific polyclonal antibody response with infrequent dosing.

In neurodegeneration, AFFiRiS/AC Immune competes with other biotechs (e.g., Biogen, Prothena) developing immunotherapies against alpha-synuclein. In hypercholesterolemia, AT04 faces competition from established PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies and newer, long-acting RNAi therapies (e.g., inclisiran), making differentiation on durability and convenience critical.