Los Angeles, CA and Rockville, MD – September 5, 2012. ImaginAb, Inc. a developer of in vivo molecular imaging agents based on its proprietary antibody fragment platform, today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and commercialization agreement with MacroGenics, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, ImaginAb will develop an anti-CD3 clinical imaging product, for which MacroGenics may receive future milestones and royalties. In addition, ImaginAb will support the development of companion imaging agents for B7-H3, a novel immune regulator target for which MacroGenics is developing therapeutics.
“Collaborating with MacroGenics provides the opportunity to demonstrate the ways in which ImaginAb’s antibody fragment-based imaging technology can be used at the clinical nexus between cancer and immunology,” said Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, Chief Executive Officer of ImaginAb. “We are glad to partner on both the B7-H3 and CD3 imaging programs as they are high-potential targets for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The recent clinical successes around key immune-directed targets in cancer, including those involving members of the B7 family of proteins, make these areas of research especially exciting. Our collaboration will augment ImaginAb’s existing CD8 development program with an anti-CD3 imaging program.”
“Imaging immune function is the next frontier of diagnostic medicine and will have a major impact on how new therapeutics are developed for cancer and autoimmune diseases,” commented Dr. Scott Koenig, CEO of MacroGenics. “Our collaboration with ImaginAb should benefit our internal development programs targeting CD3 and B7-H3.”
Under the terms of the agreement, ImaginAb will develop a clinical imaging strategy based on a MacroGenics’ anti-CD3 antibody as a patient selection tool for ongoing clinical programs, and will engineer a high-performance CD3 binding fragment for routine clinical imaging. In addition, ImaginAb will develop imaging strategies and reagents for MacroGenics’ anti-B7-H3 therapeutic product candidate, MGA271, and related applications for its CD3-based, Re-Directed T Cell Killing DART™ (Dual-Affinity Re-Targeting) therapeutic programs in cancer.
About ImaginAb
ImaginAb is redefining therapeutic management by harnessing the power of antibody technology for in vivo imaging. The company’s proprietary antibody fragment platform yields actionable molecular information to guide treatment decisions in cancer and immunology. ImaginAb also collaborates with select biopharmaceutical partners to design imaging agents as companion diagnostics for therapeutic antibodies. ImaginAb’s technology is positioned to deliver on the promise of personalized medicine by improving patient outcomes and reducing the cost of healthcare.
For more information, visit www.imaginab.com.
About MacroGenics
MacroGenics is a private, venture-backed biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery, development and delivery to patients of novel biologics for cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases. The company has built a fully-integrated set of capabilities in antibody-based product development which supports its innovative pipeline of clinical stage product candidates. MacroGenics’ proprietary research is based on three core technology platforms, which include: (1) a leading research capability for screening and targeting cancer stem-like cells; (2) Dual-Affinity Re-Targeting (or DART) bispecific technology, which allows the incorporation of multiple specificities within a single recombinant molecule; and (3) Fc optimization, which enhances antibody-dependent effector cell function. The company has multiple research and development collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies including Boehringer Ingelheim, Les Laboratoires Servier and Pfizer, Inc.
For more information, visit www.macrogenics.com