Oxford BioTherapeutics to collaboration with ImmunoGen on novel antibody-drug therapies

By Nicky Godding

14 June 2022

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Oxford BioTherapeutics, a clinical stage oncology company with a pipeline of immuno-oncology and antibody drug conjugate-based therapies (ADCs ), has announced a multi-year collaboration to research, develop and commercialize novel, first-in-class ADCs with USA-based ImmunoGen, a leader in the expanding field of ADCs for the treatment of cancer. The companies will use ImmunoGen’s linker-payload technology directed to novel targets identified via OBT's proprietary OGAP® discovery platform. The companies will support these R&D efforts through joint funding and by combining their respective proprietary technologies.

Christian Rohlff, PhD, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oxford BioTherapeutics, said: “I am very enthusiastic about our new partnership with ImmunoGen.The company’s expertise, in combination with the unique targets from our OGAP^®database, provides potential to strengthen our respective drug pipelines with novel and highly differentiated ADCs for cancer patients in need of novel therapeutic options.”

As part of the agreement, OBT will receive an upfront payment from ImmunoGen, reflecting OBT’s preclinical programs to be included in the partnership.

In addition, once antibodies generated by OBT have been coupled with ImmunoGen's proprietary linker-payload technology, each company will have the opportunity to select one or more development programs to further develop on its own.

Each company is eligible to receive milestone payments based on the achievement of pre-specified development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties as a percentage of worldwide commercial sales, with respect to each program selected by the other company. Once a company has chosen a given program, it will be solely responsible for all R&D costs associated with the specific program.

Stacy Coen, ImmunoGen's Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer, added:"OBT has demonstrated expertise in identifying novel targets for the development of specific antibodies – two key components to generating successful ADCs. This expertise, combined with ImmunoGen's portfolio of cancer-killing payloads and linkers, will be instrumental as both companies work to develop novel ADCs designed to address cancers with high unmet need. We look forward to working with OBT as we expand and diversify our investment in ADC research capabilities, deepen our pipeline, and transition to a fully-integrated oncology company."

By Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe.

After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts.

She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.