ImmunoGen,
Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a biotechnology
company that develops anticancer therapeutics using its antibody
expertise and Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology, today
announced the start of clinical testing with its IMGN853 product
candidate. The Phase I trial initiated evaluates the safety,
tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and anticancer activity
of this TAP compound in patients with ovarian cancer or other solid
tumors that over-express FOLR1 (also known as folate receptor alpha),
including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Once the maximum tolerated
dose (MTD) of IMGN853 is established, the activity of the compound will
be evaluated in disease-specific patient cohorts.
"This trial is expected to provide key information needed to define the
registration path for IMGN853," commented James O'Leary, MD, Vice
President and Chief Medical Officer. "The study protocol allows for the
use of single-patient cohorts for evaluation of the lower dose levels,
which should accelerate the pace of advancement to higher doses and to
the trial's expansion phase. In the expansion phase, IMGN853 will be
evaluated as a treatment for specific types of FOLR1-overexpressing
tumors. These findings should enable us to make decisions needed to
advance IMGN853 into later-stage clinical testing."
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