On October 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN) reported that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Novartis to discover and develop targeted anticancer therapeutics using antibodies to several antigen targets to be named by Novartis (Press release, ImmunoGen, OCT 11, 2010, View Source [SID:1234515014]).
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Under this agreement, Novartis will pay a $45 million upfront fee to ImmunoGen for exclusive rights to use the Company’s Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology with antibodies to the specified number of antigen targets. For each target that results in an anticancer therapeutic, ImmunoGen is entitled to receive milestone payments potentially totaling $200.5 million plus royalties on product sales, if any. The Company also is entitled to receive financial compensation for research and for any manufacturing done on behalf of Novartis. Novartis is responsible for the development, manufacturing, and marketing of any products resulting from this agreement.
"ImmunoGen has a valuable technology, and we’re committed to developing our own pipeline of anticancer therapeutics," commented Daniel Junius, President and CEO of ImmunoGen. "Our partnerships provide funding support for our internal product programs and further development of our technology. We plan to continue to establish new collaborations on a selective basis."
About ImmunoGen’s Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) Technology
ImmunoGen developed its TAP technology to achieve more effective, better tolerated anticancer drugs. A TAP compound consists of a tumor-targeting manufactured antibody with one of ImmunoGen’s proprietary, highly potent cancer-killing agents attached as a payload. The antibody serves to deliver the payload specifically to tumor cells, and the payload serves to kill these cells.
ImmunoGen’s technology portfolio uniquely provides:
A selection of highly potent cancer-killing payload agents;
A selection of stable linkers for attachment of these agents to antibodies; and
Means of attaching the payload to the antibody that retain the desired structural and functional properties of the antibody.
Seven TAP compounds are now in clinical testing through ImmunoGen’s own product programs and those of its partners.