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ImmunoGen, Inc. Grants Biotest AG Rights to Use ImmunoGen TAP Technology to Develop Novel Anticancer Therapeutics; ImmunoGen Has Opt-In Rights on Resulting Compounds.


CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN) announced today that the Company has entered into an agreement that grants Biotest AG exclusive rights to use ImmunoGen's Tumor-Activated Prodrug prodrug /pro·drug/ (-drug) a compound that, on administration, must undergo chemical conversion by metabolic processes before becoming an active pharmacological agent; a precursor of a drug.  (TAP) technology with antibodies targeting an undisclosed target to develop novel anticancer therapeutics. Under the agreement, ImmunoGen will receive a $1 million upfront payment, up to $35.5 million in potential milestone payments, and royalties on the sales of any resulting products. At specific stages during the clinical evaluation clinical evaluation Medtalk An evaluation of whether a Pt has symptoms of a disease, is responding to treatment, or is having adverse reactions to therapy  of any compound created under this agreement, ImmunoGen can elect to participate in the US development and commercialization of that compound.

"We're very pleased to enter into this agreement with Biotest, a successful European-based therapeutics and diagnostics company," commented Mitchel Sayare, PhD, Chairman of the Board and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board.  of ImmunoGen. "This agreement further expands the application of our TAP technology and the opportunity for a significant financial return to ImmunoGen. Of particular importance, it provides us with the flexibility to choose to participate in the US development and commercialization of any compound created under it, which could substantially increase the upside for ImmunoGen."

Professor Dr. Gregor Schulz, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Biotest, said, "The agreement with ImmunoGen is a big step for Biotest in the development of biotherapeutic medical products. In conjunction with ImmunoGen's TAP technology, our BT-062 antibody, with its specific efficacy mechanism and target accuracy, could represent a cancer treatment with enormous potential. We can now exploit this potential internationally. We are delighted to have the exclusive right to use ImmunoGen's proprietary technology with antibodies to BT-062's target, and believe the compound or compounds we develop using it will have a favorable, patent-protected competitive position."

The agreement grants Biotest exclusive rights to use ImmunoGen's maytansinoid TAP technology with antibodies to an undisclosed target to create anticancer therapeutics, which are expected to be developed for the treatment of multiple myeloma multiple myeloma

A malignant proliferation of abnormal plasma cells that populate the marrow-containing bones of the body. The affected plasma cells produce myeloma protein, a monoclonal antibody that replaces normal antibodies in the blood, thereby increasing susceptibility
 and other cancers. ImmunoGen also receives manufacturing payments for any preclinical and clinical materials made at the request of Biotest. The agreement provides ImmunoGen with the right to elect to participate in the US development and commercialization of any resulting compound in lieu of potentially receiving the milestone payments not yet earned and royalties on the US sales of that product. ImmunoGen can exercise this right at certain points in the clinical evaluation of the compound by payment to Biotest of an agreed-upon fee of $5 million or $15 million, depending on the stage of development. Upon exercise of this right, the two companies would share equally the associated costs of product development and commercialization in the US along with the profit, if any, from US product sales.

About TAP Compounds

A TAP compound consists of a tumor-targeting antibody with a potent cell-killing agent attached. The antibody component is designed to bind to to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife s>.

See also: Bind
 a target found on cancer cells and serves to deliver the TAP compound specifically to these cells. Once a TAP compound has bound to and entered the cell, the attached cell-killing agent is able to kill the cancer cell. ImmunoGen develops its own TAP compounds and also outlicenses its TAP technology to other companies for use with their proprietary antibodies.

About Biotest

Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany, is a company that researches and manufactures pharmaceutical, biotherapeutic and diagnostic products and has specialized in immunology and hematology. In its Pharmaceutical segment, Biotest develops immunoglobulins, clotting factors Clotting factors
Substances in the blood that act in sequence to stop bleeding by forming a clot.

Mentioned in: Partial Thromboplastin Time

clotting factors,
n.
 and albumins based on human blood plasma blood plasma
n.
The yellow or gray-yellow, protein-containing fluid portion of blood in which the blood cells and platelets are normally suspended.
. These are used to treat diseases of the immune system immune system

Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders.
 or hematopoietic system hematopoietic system
n.
The blood-making organs, principally the bone marrow and lymph nodes.


Hematopoietic system
The system in the body which is responsible for the production of blood cells.
. In addition, Biotest also develops monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of medical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis

Chronic, progressive autoimmune disease causing connective-tissue inflammation, mostly in synovial joints. It can occur at any age, is more common in women, and has an unpredictable course.
 and blood cancer. The Diagnostic segment spans reagents and serology Serology

The division of biological science concerned with antigen-antibody reactions in serum. It properly encompasses any of these reactions, but is often used in a limited sense to denote laboratory diagnostic tests, especially for syphilis.
 and microbiology systems which are used, for example, in blood transfusions. Biotest has around 1,100 employees worldwide and its shares are listed in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard.

About ImmunoGen, Inc.

ImmunoGen, Inc. develops targeted anticancer biopharmaceuticals. The Company's proprietary TAP technology uses tumor-targeting antibodies to deliver a potent cell-killing agent specifically to cancer cells. Four TAP compounds are in clinical testing - huN901-DM1 and huC242-DM4, which are wholly owned by ImmunoGen, and AVE9633 and trastuzumab-DM1, which are in development by the sanofi-aventis Group and Genentech, respectively. Amgen (formerly Abgenix), Biogen Idec, Biotest AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Centocor, Genentech, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and the sanofi-aventis Group have licensed the right to develop and/or test TAP compounds to specific targets; ImmunoGen also has a broader collaboration with the sanofi-aventis Group.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. For these statements, ImmunoGen claims the protection of the safe harbor Safe Harbor

1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated.

2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive.
 for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and  of 1995. It should be noted that there are risks and uncertainties related to the Company's development of its own products, as well as to the development of products by our collaborators. A review of these risks can be found in ImmunoGen's Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K

A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information.


Form 10-K

See 10-K.
 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2006, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Date:Jul 11, 2006
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