Sanofi-Aventis gains access to ImmnoGen’s antibody technology

Sanofi-Aventis has struck a deal with ImmunoGen, an American biopharmaceuticals company, allowing it to gain access to technology that will allow it to “humanise” antibodies.

The two companies have been collaborating since 2003, when Sanofi-Aventis licensed-in the rights to use ImmunoGen’s antibody surfacing technology to help develop humanised antibody compounds as anticancer therapies. The new agreement allows the company to develop humanised antibodies for non-cancer indications as well.

Under the terms of the agreement, ImmunoGen will receive an initial $1 million (1.9 million pounds) licensing fee, of which half is payable upon signing the contract. Furthermore, milestone payments of up to $4.5 million will be made, depending on product success, while Sanofi-Aventis is likely to pay royalties on any product successfully launched.

Mitchel Sayare, chairman and chief executive officer of ImmunoGen, remarked: “We’re delighted that Sanofi-Aventis has moved to secure their access to our humanisation technology.”

During the companies’ existing collaboration, AVE9633, a new treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia, was discovered.

ImmunoGen also has agreements with several companies including Boehringer Ingelheim, Amgen and Genentech.