ImmunoGen’s IMGN529 For B-Cell Malignancies Demonstrates Synergistic Activity With Rituximab In Preclinical Models Of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ImmunoGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMGN), a biotechnology company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics using its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology, today announced the first presentation of findings with the Company’s CD37-targeting ADC, IMGN529, in combination with the CD20-targeting antibody, rituximab (Rituxan^®), in preclinical assessments. These data are being presented in a poster at the 13^th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma taking place in Lugano, Switzerland (abstract #P-274).

“Rituximab is a standard of care in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, and thus it is highly exciting that IMGN529 and rituximab demonstrate synergistic activity in combination in these models”

Among the findings being presented are:

• IMGN529 exhibits strong synergy with rituximab and other CD20-targeting antibodies in cell lines representative of an array of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes, including both GCB and ABC diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL);
• Consistent with the in vitro findings, the combination of IMGN529 and rituximab was highly active against DLBCL models in vivo;
• Synergy also was seen in vitro in a model representative of “double hit” lymphoma, a particularly difficult-to-treat type of DLBCL characterized by deregulation of two different genes, BCL2 (or BCL6) and MYC; and
• Both IMGN529’s antibody component and its DM1 payload contributed to its synergistic activity with rituximab.

“Rituximab is a standard of care in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, and thus it is highly exciting that IMGN529 and rituximab demonstrate synergistic activity in combination in these models,” commented Dr. Charles Morris, EVP and Chief Development Officer of ImmunoGen. “We plan to initiate clinical testing of IMGN529 in combination with rituximab later this year to assess the potential benefit of such a regimen for patients with DLBCL.”

IMGN529 is currently in Phase I clinical testing for the treatment of NHL, used as a single agent in patients with heavily pre-treated disease. It has demonstrated encouraging evidence of activity, particularly for patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL.¹ Later this year, ImmunoGen plans to begin assessing IMGN529 used in combination with rituximab for the treatment of relapsed/refractory DLBCL in addition to assessing it as a single agent in DLBCL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia disease-specific patient populations.

About IMGN529

IMGN529 is a CD37-targeting ADC created by ImmunoGen for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. It consists of a CD37-binding antibody with one of the Company’s potent cancer cell-killing agents, DM1, attached. The antibody serves to deliver the DM1 specifically to B cells to kill them and, based on preclinical research, also contributes anticancer activity.

About Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

More than 70,000 people will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the US in 2014.² DLBCL is an aggressive lymphoma that represents approximately one third of the new NHL cases diagnosed annually.² GCB, or Germinal Center B-cell like, and ABC, or Activated B-cell like, are prevalent sub-types of DLBCL which can differ markedly in their responses to treatment.

About ImmunoGen, Inc.

ImmunoGen, Inc. develops targeted anticancer therapeutics. The Company’s ADC technology uses tumor-targeting antibodies to deliver an ImmunoGen cell-killing agent specifically to cancer cells. The Company utilizes its ADC technology with its antibodies to create ImmunoGen product candidates and also out-licenses limited rights to use its technology to other companies. Roche’s Kadcyla^® is the first marketed product with ImmunoGen’s ADC technology. More information about the Company can be found at www.immunogen.com.

Rituxan^® and Kadcyla^® are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

¹American Society of Hematology annual meeting 2014; abstract #1760.

²American Cancer Society (2014), Cancer Facts & Figures.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. For these statements, ImmunoGen claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It should be noted that there are risks and uncertainties related to the development of novel anticancer products, including IMGN529, including risks related to preclinical and clinical studies, their timings and results. A review of these risks can be found in ImmunoGen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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