Sanofi-Aventis signs option agreement with ImmunoGen

Sanofi-Aventis has entered into an option agreement with ImmunoGen that will allow the company expanded access to ImmunoGen’s tumour-activated prodrug (TAP) technology.

At present, Sanofi-Aventis has the rights to use this technology with antibodies to target diseases listed in the companies’ research collaboration, while this option agreement will enable it to use this technology elsewhere.

ImmunoGen’s maytansnoid TAP technology involves derivatives of maytansine, DM1 and DM4 – antibody-directed cell-killing agents for delivery against cancer cells.

Mitchel Sayare, chairman and chief executive officer, said: “In the past six months, Sanofi-Aventis has exercised its second and final option to extend the duration of our research collaboration, advanced another compound from this collaboration into the clinic, licensed broader access to our humanisation technology and now taken an option for expanded access to our TAP technology.”

He added that the company felt that these choices by Sanofi-Aventis reflected the importance and strength of ImmunoGen’s technology, intellectual property and research abilities.

In 2003, ImmunoGen and Sanofi-Aventis predecessor Aventis Pharmaceuticals signed a partnership agreement for the discovery, development and marketing of antibody-based anticancer therapies.

This agreement has already been extended to its maximum permitted length and will now expire on August 31st 2008.

Earlier this week, Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that the appeal by Apotex against the judgement relating to the marketing of that company’s 75mg clopidogrel bisulphate tablets.