ImmunoGen, Inc. was a biotechnology company focused on the development of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. ImmunoGen was founded in 1981 and was headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.[2]
An ImmunoGen ADC contains a manufactured antibody that binds to a target found on cancer cells, with one of the company's potent cell-killing agents attached as a "payload". The antibody serves to deliver the cell-killing agent specifically to cancer cells bearing its target and the payload serves to kill these cells. In some cases, the antibody also has anticancer activity.
In November 2023, AbbVie, an American pharmaceutical company, announced it was buying ImmunoGen for $10.1 billion.[3][4]
Linkage technology
Currently approved ADCs with ImmunoGen technology employ one of the company's maytansinoid cell-killing agents, either DM1 or DM4, or one of the company's DNA-acting IGN payloads.
DM1 attached to an antibody with ImmunoGen's thioether linker is called "emtansine" in its INN name
DM4 attached with ImmunoGen's sSPDB linker is called "soravtansine"
mirvetuximab soravtansine
ImmunoGen also developed isatuximab, a monoclonal antibody without linkage to a toxin.
Pipeline
ImmunoGen uses its ADC technology to develop its own product candidates. The mirvetuximab, which has been submitted for FDA approval, is being developed as a monotherapy or a standalone treatment for ovarian cancer.[7][8] Other products currently in clinical-stage development include:[9]
an undisclosed antibody in collaboration with Amgen
Collaborations & licensing
The company also selectively out licenses limited use of its technology to other companies. Companies licensing ImmunoGen's technology include Amgen, Bayer HealthCare, Biotest, Genentech/Roche, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Sanofi, and Takeda.[9] Roche's Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) utilizes ImmunoGen's ADC technology. It has been approved and launched in a number of countries, including the US, where it is marketed by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.[14][15] In October 2015, the company disclosed that Kadcyla had failed to meet its primary endpoint in the Phase II/III GATSBY trial investigating the second line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer.[16]
