On November 11, 2016 ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, reported new preclinical data that demonstrate the potential for enhanced activity when combining mirvetuximab soravtansine with immune checkpoint inhibition (Press release, ImmunoGen, NOV 11, 2016, View Source [SID1234516496]). These data will be presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper)’s (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 31st Annual Meeting, which is being held November 9-13 in National Harbor, Maryland. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! Mirvetuximab soravtansine is a first-in-class folate receptor alpha (FRα)-targeting ADC and is entering a Phase 3 trial, FORWARD I, as a single agent treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Mirvetuximab is also being assessed in combination regimens with Keytruda, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, as well as Doxil, carboplatin and Avastin for both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer in the Phase 1b/2 FORWARD II trial. The Company expects initial data from FORWARD II in mid-2017.
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"We are committed to continuing to drive innovation in the research and development of ADCs for the treatment of cancer. These preclinical data reinforce the potential of combining mirvetuximab soravtansine with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, which we are evaluating as part of our FORWARD II trial," said Richard Gregory, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer of ImmunoGen. "More broadly, these data suggest that ADCs using ImmunoGen’s maytansinoid technology may have an important role in promoting anti-tumor immunity in conjunction with immuno-oncology drugs."
In a poster presentation, the Company will report in vitro data showing that treatment of FRα-expressing tumor cells with mirvetuximab soravtansine activates monocytes, a type of antigen presenting cell (APC). Monocyte activation required both the antibody component of mirvetuximab soravtansine, which interacts with Fcγ receptors on APCs and its cancer-killing agent DM4, which promotes immunogenic cell death of the tumor cells. Activation of APCs in the presence of tumor neo antigen would trigger an anti-tumor T cell response that could be enhanced by immune checkpoint inhibition.
Poster Presentation
Title: "Treatment of Tumor Cells with Mirvetuximab Soravtansine, a FRα-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC), Activates Monocytes Through Fc-FcγR Interaction and Immunogenic Cell Death"
Poster session #316: Saturday, November 12 at 11:45pm ET.
For additional information, visit the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting website.
About Mirvetuximab Soravtansine
Mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) is the first FRα-targeting ADC. It uses a FRα-binding antibody to target the ADC specifically to FRα-expressing cancer cells and a potent anti-tumor agent, DM4, to kill the targeted cancer cells.
Mirvetuximab soravtansine is ImmunoGen’s lead program and is entering Phase 3 testing in the FORWARD I trial as a single agent for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The candidate is also being assessed in combination regimens for both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive disease in Phase 1b/2 FORWARD II trial.