Takeda signs deal with ImmunoGen to develop cancer drugs

Massachusetts-based biotechnology company ImmunoGen has granted pharmaceutical company Takeda exclusive rights to use its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology to develop and commercialise cancer drugs.

ImmunoGen’s ADC technology allows Takeda to develop new cancer treatments. Under the agreement, Takeda may develop the drugs for up to two targets, and has the option to take an additional licence for a third at the expense of a fee.

As part of the deal, ImmunoGen will receive $20 million upfront, and will be paid milestone payments up to a total of $210 million, plus royalties based on sales of any ADC products Takeda produces.

An ADC is made of a monoclonal antibody that attaches to targets on cancer cells. The antibody carries a cancer cell-killing agent, allowing for targeted cancer therapy.

According to Takeda, these cancer cell-killing agents are more potent than traditional chemotherapy agents.

One product that uses such technology is breast cancer drug Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine), which is marketed in the US by Genentech, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical company Roche.

Daniel Junius, president and chief executive at ImmunoGen, said: “Takeda shares our commitment to developing novel anti-cancer therapies that meaningfully improve the lives of patients, and we look forward to collaborating with them to create important new ADC product candidates.”

Christopher Claiborne, head of Takeda’s oncology drug discovery unit, said: “ADC technology is a critically important tool in addressing unmet needs in oncology.

“By partnering with ImmunoGen, we are able to leverage this important technology in Takeda’s research and development programme and bring novel agents through the clinic.”