Clinical trial for anti-cancer drug

The sanofi-aventis group has initiated clinical testing with anti-CD33 Tumour-Activated Prodrug (TAP) compound, huMy9-6-DM4, that it licensed from ImmunoGen. This event triggers a $2m milestone payment to ImmunoGen.

HuMy9-6-DM4 is in development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The compound comprises the engineered antibody huMy9-6, which binds specifically to the CD33 target found on AML cancer cells, and DM4, a potent cell-killing agent. ImmunoGen's TAP technology uses tumour-targeting antibodies to deliver a proprietary cell-killing agent specifically to cancer cells. In the case of huMy9-6-DM4, the huMy9-6 antibody serves to deliver the DM4 specifically to the CD33-expressing AML cells, and the DM4 serves to kill these cells.

ImmunoGen and sanofi-aventis have a collaboration to discover, develop, and commercialise novel antibody-based anticancer products. The agreement entitles ImmunoGen to receive milestone payments upon the accomplishment of pre-defined product-related achievements plus royalties on the sales, if any, of each collaboration product. The agreement also provides ImmunoGen with research support payments of at least $50.7m over three years, manufacturing payments, and certain co-promotion rights. Dr Mitchel Sayare, chairman and CEO, commented: 'At the time we entered into this collaboration, the anti-CD33 TAP compound was on track for IND filing in 2004 and initiation of clinical testing shortly thereafter. We are pleased with the pace that Aventis, and subsequently, sanofi-aventis has advanced huMy9-6-DM4, and that patient dosing with this compound has begun.'