ImmunoGen,
Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a biopharmaceutical company that develops
targeted anticancer therapeutics, today announced the presentation of
positive trastuzumab-DM1 (T-DM1) clinical data at the 32nd Annual San
Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (Abstract #710). T-DM1 comprises
ImmunoGen’s DM1 cancer-cell killing agent linked to the HER2-targeting
antibody, trastuzumab, developed by Genentech, a wholly owned member of
the Roche Group. T-DM1 is in global development by the Roche Group under
a collaboration agreement with ImmunoGen.
Among the findings reported were that 1 in 3 study patients had an
objective response to treatment with T-DM1. These patients previously
had received, on average, seven different drugs for their advanced
breast cancer. In a release issued by Genentech in conjunction with the
presentation of this data, Genentech noted the need for new treatment
options for advanced HER2-expressing breast cancer and its intention of
discussing the next steps for T-DM1 with the FDA.
“We’re thrilled with the clinical data reported today,” commented Daniel
Junius, ImmunoGen President and CEO. “It’s deeply gratifying to see so
many patients respond to T-DM1, particularly when one considers that
their cancer previously had been treated with the two approved
HER2-targeting agents as well as with multiple chemotherapies.
ImmunoGen’s goal in developing our Targeted Antibody Payload, or TAP,
technology was to enable the achievement of significant new anticancer
therapies, both by us and by our partners. We believe the data reported
today are a major step forward in the realization of this vision.”
The findings presented were from a 110-patient Phase II trial assessing
T-DM1 for the treatment of advanced (metastatic) HER2-positive breast
cancer. To qualify for enrollment, patients must have undergone prior
treatment with regimens that included an anthracycline, a taxane,
trastuzumab (Herceptin®), lapatinib (Tykerb®) and capecitabine (Xeloda®).
Among the data reported were: