Sanofi-aventis and Micromet sign global solid tumour BiTE antibody agreement

Published: 30-Oct-2009

French drugmaker sanofi-aventis and US biotech Micromet are to develop a BiTE antibody against an antigen present at the surface of carcinoma cells. BiTE antibodies are novel therapeutic antibodies that activate patients" T cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells.


French drugmaker sanofi-aventis and US biotech Micromet are to develop a BiTE antibody against an antigen present at the surface of carcinoma cells. BiTE antibodies are novel therapeutic antibodies that activate patients" T cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Sanofi-aventis will pay Micromet an upfront cash payment of Euro 8m. Micromet could receive development and regulatory milestone payments of up to €162m, as well as royalties on sales and additional performance-based milestones of up to €150m.

Micromet will be responsible for the discovery of the BiTE antibody and Phase I clinical trial. Sanofi-aventis will then further develop and commercialise the antibody.

"We believe BiTE antibodies have the potential significantly to expand the treatment options that we can offer to cancer patients in the future," said Marc Cluzel, senior vice-president of r&d at sanofi-aventis.

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