Genentech signs up for fourth TAP license with ImmunoGen

By Ted A. Knutson

Washington, Dec. 13 - ImmunoGen, Inc. announced Tuesday that Genentech, Inc. has licensed exclusive rights to use ImmunoGen's Tumor-Activated Prodrug (TAP) technology with therapeutic antibodies to an undisclosed target.

This is the fourth such license to be taken by Genentech, which also has licensed exclusive rights to use TAP with therapeutic antibodies to two other undisclosed targets and to HER2.

Under the license, ImmunoGen will receive a $1 million license payment upfront and is entitled to receive milestone payments. The company also is entitled to royalties on the sales of any resulting products.

Genentech is responsible for the development, manufacturing and marketing of any products resulting from this license. This license stems from an agreement - renewed by Genentech in May 2005 for an additional three years - that grants Genentech certain rights to test ImmunoGen's maytansinoid TAP technology with its therapeutic antibodies to specific targets and to license rights to use the technology to develop products.

"We believe this licensing activity underscores the potential applicability of our technology with numerous antibody targets," said Mitchel Savare, ImmunoGen chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement.

Cambridge, Mass.-based ImmunoGen develops targeted anticancer biopharmaceuticals.

Genentech is a South San Francisco, Calif.-based biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing biotherapeutics.

The announcement was made in an 8-K filing by ImmunoGen with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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