ImmunoGen, Inc. Announces the IND Is Now Active for Its Folate-Receptor Targeting Anticancer Compound, IMGN853

• Potential new therapeutic for ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors which over-express folate receptor 1 (FOLR1).
• Achievement of active IND for IMGN853 closely follows start of patient dosing with IMGN529 and initiation of Phase II testing with IMGN901.
• IMGN853 Phase I evaluation expected to begin in mid-2012.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a biotechnology company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics, today announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its IMGN853 product candidate is now active. IMGN853 is a potential new therapeutic for ovarian cancer, NSCLC, and other epithelial malignancies which over-express FOLR1. The Company expects Phase I evaluation of IMGN853 to begin in mid-2012.

Recently the Company announced the start of Phase II testing with its IMGN901 compound in small-cell lung cancer and — earlier today — it announced the start of Phase I testing with its IMGN529 compound in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. All three product candidates utilize the Company's Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology with ImmunoGen antibodies and are wholly owned by the Company.

"Our progress with IMGN901, IMGN529 and now IMGN853 speaks to our commitment to build and effectively advance a product pipeline of significant anticancer therapeutics," commented Daniel Junius, President and CEO. "Each of these product candidates employs our TAP technology with its specific design optimized for its target. IMGN853, for example, uses one of the novel linkers we engineered to counter the multi-drug resistance that cancer cells can develop. Given the expression patterns of its target, with IMGN853 we also have a diagnostic assay to help in the identification of the patients most likely to benefit from treatment."

About IMGN853

ImmunoGen created IMGN853 for the treatment of ovarian cancer, NSCLC, and other epithelial malignancies that over-express FOLR1. The compound comprises the Company's highly potent cancer-cell-killing agent, DM4, attached to its M9346A FOLR1-targeting antibody using one of the novel linkers ImmunoGen designed to counter multi-drug resistance. Many cancers develop multi-drug resistance with continued treatment, making the tumors increasingly difficult to kill.

About ImmunoGen, Inc.

ImmunoGen, Inc. develops targeted anticancer therapeutics using the Company's expertise in tumor biology, monoclonal antibodies, potent cancer-cell killing agents and engineered linkers. The Company's TAP technology uses monoclonal antibodies to deliver one of ImmunoGen's proprietary cancer-cell killing agents specifically to tumor cells. There are now numerous TAP compounds in clinical development with a wealth of clinical data reported. ImmunoGen's collaborative partners include Amgen, Bayer HealthCare, Biotest, Lilly, Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi. The most advanced compound using ImmunoGen's TAP technology, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), is in Phase III testing through the Company's collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. More information about ImmunoGen can be found at www.immunogen.com.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. For these statements, ImmunoGen claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It should be noted that there are risks and uncertainties related to the development of novel anticancer products, including IMGN853, IMGN529 and IMGN901, including risks related to preclinical and clinical studies, their timings and results. A review of these risks can be found in ImmunoGen's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For Investors:
ImmunoGen, Inc.
Carol Hausner, 781-895-0600
Executive Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
info@immunogen.com
or
For Media:
The Yates Network
Kathryn Morris, 845-635-9828

Source: ImmunoGen, Inc.

News Provided by Acquire Media