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WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN) today reported on additions to the Company's portfolio of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technologies at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics meeting being held in Boston, MA.^1,2,3 Of particular interest were presentations on the Company's new platform of DNA-acting payload agents ImmunoGen has created to further extend the opportunity for ADC cancer treatments.

New Platform of DNA-Acting Payload Agents

ImmunoGen scientists presented preclinical data on the Company's IGN platform of DNA-acting agents, developed for use in ADCs.^1,2 These agents complement the Company's existing, successful platform of tubulin-acting payload agents (e.g., DM1, DM4). ImmunoGen created its IGNs to expand the opportunity for ADC therapies — to enable the development of effective ADCs for cancers such as those not sensitive to tubulin-acting agents, those with low levels of antigen expression, and those with multidrug resistance.

As reported today, ImmunoGen scientists created IGN di-imines that demonstrate potent anticancer activity in preclinical testing — both alone and as the payload component of an ADC. They then identified that certain IGN modifications greatly enhance the tolerability of IGN-ADCs, without loss of potency, enabling achievement of anticancer agents demonstrating a notable therapeutic window in preclinical models.

The presentations today include data showing in vivo activity and tolerability, on both an acute and sustained basis, of ADCs utilizing such modified IGNs (IGN mono-imines). Data were reported for IGN-ADCs to different antigen targets and included activity against both hematological and solid tumors.

Also reported were data showing the marked impact of linker selection on achievement of an optimized ADC with these IGN payload agents.² ImmunoGen scientists have previously reported on the impact of linker selection on achievement of an optimized ADC with the Company's tubulin-acting payload platform.⁴

"Our technologies and approaches are designed to achieve effective, well-tolerated and producible ADC products," commented John Lambert, PhD, ImmunoGen EVP and Chief Scientific Officer. "While there can be a tendency in this field to want to focus on one element of an ADC — the linker, payload or manufacturing approach — experience shows that ADCs are best thought of as integrated systems."

About ImmunoGen, Inc.

ImmunoGen, Inc. develops targeted anticancer therapeutics. The Company's ADC technology uses a tumor-targeting engineered antibody to deliver one of ImmunoGen's highly potent cancer-cell killing agents specifically to tumor cells. The most advanced compound with ImmunoGen's ADC technology is Roche's Kadcyla^®, which is marketed in the US by Genentech and is also gaining approvals internationally. ImmunoGen has four wholly owned clinical-stage product candidates, with additional compounds in the clinic through its partnerships with Amgen, Bayer HealthCare, Biotest and Sanofi. More information about the Company can be found at www.immunogen.com.

¹ Miller et al., AACR-NCI-EORTC 2013, abstract #C160.
² Whiteman et al., AACR-NCI-EORTC 2013, abstract #C162.
³ Singh et al., AACR-NCI-EORTC 2013, abstract #C164.
⁴ Multiple, including Kovtun et al., Cancer Res 2006; 66: (6) and Ab et al., AACR 2011, abstract #4576.

Kadcyla^® is a registered trademark of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

For Investors:

ImmunoGen, Inc.
Carol Hausner, 781-895-0600
Executive Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
info@immunogen.com
or
For Media:
The Yates Network
Barbara Yates, 781-258-6153

Source: ImmunoGen, Inc.

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