13 June 2022 - - US-based ImmunoGen Inc. (NASDAQ: IMGN), a specialist in antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer, has forged a multi-year collaboration to research novel, first-in-class ADCs with clinical stage oncology company Oxford BioTherapeutics, with a pipeline of immuno-oncology and ADC-based therapies, utilizing ImmunoGen's proprietary linker-payload technology directed to novel targets identified via OBT's proprietary OGAP discovery platform, the company said.

The companies will support these research and development efforts through joint funding and by using their respective proprietary technologies.

As part of the agreement, OBT will receive an upfront payment from ImmunoGen, reflecting OBT's preclinical programs to be included in the collaboration.

After antibodies generated by OBT have been coupled with ImmunoGen's proprietary linker-payload technology, each company will have the opportunity to select one or more development programs to further develop on its own.

Each company will be eligible to receive milestone payments based on the achievement of 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.

Once a company has chosen a given program, it will be solely responsible for all R and D costs associated with that specific program.

ImmunoGen's portfolio is comprised of next-generation maytansinoid, DNA-acting, and novel camptothecin toxins and proprietary linkers.

This collaboration will utilize novel targets identified by OBT combined with ImmunoGen's proprietary toxins and associated linkers.

OBT has clinical experience with ImmunoGen's ADC platform and DM4 payload, which is utilized in OBT's lead program OBT076, an ADC currently in clinical trials as a monotherapy, as well as in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, in patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors, including gastric, bladder, ovarian, and lung cancer.

ImmunoGen is developing the next generation of antibody-drug conjugates to improve outcomes for cancer patients.