BioWorld Today features ImmunGene's pipeline of next generation armed antibodies for cancer

Nov 11 2010

ImmunGene, Inc., a privately held drug development company focused on targeted antibody therapeutics with numerous anti-cancer functions built into a single therapy, announced today that a profile of the company and its pipeline is featured in the November 21 issue of BioWorld Today in the NewCo section http://www.bioworld.com/.

The publication noted that, "ImmunGene is currently in advanced partnership discussion with several biotech and pharma companies for its payload... The firm's approach involves fusing a monoclonal antibody with a cytokine, initially interferon, for local delivery to the tumor. Called a CmAb, the molecule can be aimed 'directly where we want it to go,' (CEO Sanjay) Khare said."

The addition of the cytokine means that: "'...our CmAbs can do more [than other antibody arming ADCs] since select cytokines are associated with several desirable anti-tumor functions,' he said. CmAbs also are genetically engineered molecules, which could make them simpler and cheaper to produce. 'There's no multistep manufacturing process,' Khare added."

"Another benefit is that the CmAbs can be dosed at a very low level and still be efficacious. ImmunGene's researchers, for example, have been able to limit interferon activity in CmAb to one-one hundredth of the unfused IFN. By fusing it with an antibody that binds only to tumor cells, that interferon dose is sufficient to initiate cell death. ImmunGene's lead CmAb candidate, IGN002, is a third-generation antibody-fusion drug designed to target CD20-positive tumors, initially going after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma not treatable by Rituxan (rituximab, Genentech Inc./Roche AG and Biogen Idec Inc.)," noted the BioWorld article.

Dr. Sanjay Khare, ImmunGene's Chief Executive Officer said, "We are pleased to receive recognition from a global biotech publication for ImmunGene's pipeline of next generation armed antibodies for cancer. ImmunGene's technology promises several important benefits over existing therapy including increased potency compared to the naked antibody; activity where there is resistance to the antibody, and simpler and less costly manufacturing and lower cost of goods."

SOURCE ImmunGene, Inc.