ImmunoGen Partners with Oxford BioTherapeutics to Develop Novel ADCs

ImmunoGen entered into a multi-year collaboration with Oxford BioTherapeutics (OBT), a clinical-stage oncology company, to research novel, first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). According to a June 13, 2022 company press release, the companies will direct ImmunoGen's proprietary linker-payload technology at novel targets identified using OBT's proprietary drug discovery platform, OGAP. The companies will support these R&D efforts through joint funding and by using their respective proprietary technologies.

Under the agreement, OBT will receive an upfront payment from ImmunoGen. The deal will include preclinical programs that OBT is developing. When OBT-generated antibodies have been coupled with ImmunoGen's proprietary linker-payload technology, each company can select one or more development programs to further develop on its own. Each company will be eligible to receive milestone payments dependent on pre-specified development and regulatory milestones as well as tiered royalties as a percentage of worldwide commercial sales, with respect to each program selected by the other company. Each company will be solely responsible for all R&D costs associated with the specific program of its choosing.

"OBT has demonstrated expertise in identifying novel targets for the development of specific antibodies—two key components to generating successful ADCs," said Stacy Coen, ImmunoGen's senior vice-president and chief business officer, in the company press release. "This expertise, combined with ImmunoGen's portfolio of cancer-killing payloads and linkers, will be instrumental as both companies work to develop novel ADCs designed to address cancers with high unmet need. We look forward to working with OBT as we expand and diversify our investment in ADC research capabilities, deepen our pipeline, and transition to a fully-integrated oncology company."

"[ImmunoGen’s] expertise, in combination with the unique targets from our OGAP database, provides potential to strengthen our respective drug pipelines with novel and highly differentiated ADCs for cancer patients in need of novel therapeutic options," said Christian Rohlff, CEO of Oxford BioTherapeutics, in the release.

Source: ImmunoGen