Immunomedics receives additional patent for CD74 target

Immunomedics, Inc. (Nasdaq:IMMU), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and other serious diseases, today announced that additional claims for the patent family "Internalizing anti-CD74 antibodies and methods of use," were issued as U.S. Patent No. 7,772,373. The new patent, which will expire in March 2023, covers any humanized antibodies that compete for binding to CD74 with milatuzumab, or bind to the same epitope as milatuzumab.

CD74 is an attractive target for antibody therapy, because it is present in limited amounts in normal tissues but widely expressed by leukemias, lymphomas, the vast majority of multiple myeloma cases, and certain solid tumors. Milatuzumab is the first anti-CD74 antibody to have entered human testing for cancer therapy. Recent Company findings that CD74 is also present in the majority of gastrointestinal cancers may significantly broaden the use of milatuzumab in the treatment of cancer.

"We are pleased with these additional claims and believe this second patent further strengthens the Company's protection around the CD74 target," stated Cynthia L. Sullivan, President and CEO.