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ImmunoGen, Inc. Announces Presentations at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research


Published on 2011-03-30 13:20:31 - Market Wire
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WALTHAM, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ ImmunoGen, Inc ]. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a biotechnology company that develops targeted antibody-based anticancer products using its antibody expertise and Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology, today announced that nine presentations a" one oral and eight poster presentations a" will be given by ImmunoGen scientists at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to be held in Orlando, Florida, April 2-6, 2011.

"Our presentations at AACR reflect our practice of using the findings from clinical-stage TAP compounds to continually enhance our product programs and expand our technology portfolio"

aOur presentations at AACR reflect our practice of using the findings from clinical-stage TAP compounds to continually enhance our product programs and expand our technology portfolio,a commented John Lambert, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. aWe have six presentations on our lead preclinical compounds, IMGN529 and IMGN853, which each have special features. IMGN529, for example, contains an antibody with pronounced anticancer activity of its own, and IMGN853 employs one of the newer linkers we developed to combat multidrug resistance. Both of these TAP compounds are on track for IND filing within the coming twelve months.a

A TAP compound consists of a tumor-targeting antibody with one of ImmunoGena™s highly potent cancer-cell killing agents attached using one of the Companya™s engineered linkers. The antibody serves to target the TAP compound specifically to tumor cells, and the cell-killing agent serves to destroy these cells. The antibody may or may not have anticancer activity of its own.

Presentations on IMGN529

  • aAntibody and linker selection for the anti-CD37 antibody-maytansinoid conjugate IMGN529 for the treatment of B-cell malignanciesa (Abstract #2830). Oral presentation on April 4, 2011, 4:05-4:20 pm (Room W209).
  • aIMGN529 is an anti-CD37-maytansinoid conjugate with potent in vitro and in vivo activity against NHL and CLL cell linesa (Abstract #4581). Poster section 31, April 5, 2011, 1-5 pm (Board 23).
  • aIMGN529: A therapeutic maytansinoid conjugate of an anti-CD37 antibody with multiple mechanisms of action for B-cell lymphoma and leukemiaa (Abstract #4565). Poster section 31, April 5, 2011, 1-5 pm (Board 7).

Presentations on IMGN853

  • aPreclinical evaluation of IMGN853, an anti-FOLR1 antibody-maytansinoid conjugate, as a potential therapeutic for ovarian cancera (Abstract #1760). Poster section 31, April4, 2011, 8-12 pm (Board 10).
  • aIMGN853, an anti-folate receptor 1 antibody-maytansinoid conjugate for targeted cancer therapy (Abstract #4576). Poster section 31, April 5, 2011, 1-5 pm (Board 18).
  • aEvaluation of folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) expression by calibrated immunohistochemistry identifies candidate tumor subtypes for targeting by IMGN853, an anti-FOLR1-maytansinoid conjugatea (Abstract #3617). Poster section 30, April 5, 2011, 8-12 pm (Board 4).

Presentation on other compounds include:

  • ahuHER3-8, a novel humanized anti-HER3 antibody that inhibits exogeneous ligand-independent proliferation of tumor cellsa (Abstract #4564). Poster section 31, April 5, 2011, 1-5 pm (Board 6).
  • aLorvotuzumab mertansine (IMGN901) immune effector activity and its effect on human NK cellsa (Abstract #770). Poster section 31, April 3, 2011, 1-5 pm (Board 24).
  • aLorvotuzumab mertansine (IMGN901) in combination with standard-of-care paclitaxel/carboplatin therapy is highly active in a preclinical xenograft model of ovarian cancera (Abstract #1781). Poster section 32, April 4, 2011, 8-12 pm (Board 1).

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, an ImmunoGen partner, is presenting the first preclinical data on its compound, BAY 94-9343, which targets mesothelin and is being developed using ImmunoGena™s TAP technology (Abstract #1754). Poster section 31, April 4, 2011, 8-12 pm (Board 4).

About ImmunoGen, Inc.

ImmunoGen, Inc. develops targeted anticancer therapeutics using the Company's expertise in tumor biology, monoclonal antibodies and potent cancer-cell killing agents. The Company's TAP technology uses monoclonal antibodies to deliver one of ImmunoGen's proprietary cancer-cell killing agents specifically to tumor cells. There are currently seven TAP compounds in the clinic, with a wealth of clinical data reported with the technology. ImmunoGena™s collaborative partners include Amgen, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, Biotest, Genentech (a member of the Roche Group), Novartis, and sanofi-aventis. The most advanced compound using ImmunoGen's TAP technology, trastuzumab-DM1 (T-DM1), is in Phase III testing through the Company's collaboration with Genentech. More information about ImmunoGen can be found at [ www.immunogen.com ].

This press release includes forward-looking statements. For these statements, ImmunoGen claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It should be noted that there are risks and uncertainties related to the development of novel anticancer products, including IMGN529 and IMGN853, including risks related to uncertainties around preclinical studies, regulatory submissions and reviews, and their timings and results. A review of these risks can be found in ImmunoGena™s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010 and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.