ImmunoGen, Inc. Announces Preclinical Findings with its IMGN289 Product Candidate for the Treatment of EGFR-Overexpressing Cancers
- Novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) can kill Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-overexpressing cancer cells via two mechanisms — EGFR-inhibition and direct cell-killing.
- In preclinical testing, IMGN289 was highly active against EGFR-overexpressing cancer cells, including those not dependent on EGFR signaling and those resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
- ImmunoGen is on track to submit the IND for IMGN289 in mid-2013.
IMGN289 contains an EGFR-binding antibody that can achieve significant inhibition of EGFR-signaling, an important mechanism of action for EGFR-overexpressing cancers being fueled by EGFR. In studies reported today, the antibody in IMGN289 was shown to provide potency comparable to or better than cetuximab (Erbitux®) in preclinical models of SCCHN and NSCLC.
An ADC, IMGN289 also contains the Company's potent DM1 cancer
cell-killing agent, which is attached to the EGFR-binding antibody using
ImmunoGen's
The DM1 enables IMGN289 to kill EGFR-overexpressing cancers by a second method that is independent of the sensitivity of these cells to EGFR inhibition. In preclinical models of EGFR-overexpressing cancers reported today, IMGN289 was highly active against NSCLC not dependent on EGFR signaling and against NSCLC with acquired resistance to TKIs; in SCCHN models responsive to EGFR, IMGN289 was significantly more active than cetuximab.
"IMGN289 represents a highly promising new therapy for
EGFR-overexpressing cancers," commented
Dr. Lambert continued, "In developing IMGN289, our scientists identified a new class of EGFR-binding antibody — one that, in preclinical testing, achieves potent EGFR inhibition, but with less skin toxicity than marketed anti-EGFR antibodies. We expect IMGN289, comprising our TAP technology and this antibody, to provide significant efficacy benefits in the clinic with a favorable tolerability profile."
IMGN289 is on track to become the Company's fourth wholly owned clinical-stage compound. The Company is preparing to submit the IMGN289 IND in mid-2013 and to begin IMGN289 clinical testing later this year.
About Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
Approximately 52,000 people in the US were diagnosed with head and neck cancers last year.1 These cancers typically originate in the squamous cells of the mucosal linings of the (e.g., of the nose, mouth, or throat), and thus are categorized as squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.1 Research conducted at ImmunoGen has found that EGFR is overexpressed on virtually all cases of SCCHN, and that it is almost always highly overexpressed.2
About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
In 2012, approximately 194,000 patients in the US were diagnosed with NSCLC, which accounts for about 85% of all lung cancer diagnoses.3 Research conducted at ImmunoGen has found that EGFR is highly overexpressed on many of the cases of the most common subtypes, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.4
About
References
1
2
Ponte et al., AACR 2013, abstract #5483
3
4
Chittenden et al., AACR 2013, abstract #5467
Erbitux® is a registered trademark of
Kadcyla™ is a
trademark of
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 IMGN289, 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
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