Ropes & Gray Advises ImmunoGen in Multi-Target License and Option Agreement with ImmunoBiochem

Ropes & Gray represented ImmunoGen, Inc., a leader in the field of antibody-drug conjugates for cancer treatment, in a multi-target license and option agreement to research novel, first-in-class ADCs with ImmunoBiochem Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, on the discovery of unique tumor targets. The collaboration announced on July 24 will combine ImmunoGen’s proprietary linker-payload technology with ImmunoBiochem’s antibodies directed against specific tumor targets.

Under the agreement, ImmunoBiochem will receive an upfront payment in exchange for providing ImmunoGen with an exclusive license to existing antibodies directed against a specific undisclosed target. ImmunoBiochem will be eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties based on the achievement of pre-specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones.

ImmunoGen will collaborate with ImmunoBiochem on preclinical activities and assume responsibility for the program’s future clinical development and commercialization activities. ImmunoGen will also have the option to select additional targets and antibodies to license based on certain preclinical work undertaken by ImmunoBiochem. If ImmunoGen chooses to exercise this option, ImmunoBiochem will receive an option exercise payment and ImmunoGen will assume responsibility for all subsequent research and development associated with the program.

The Ropes & Gray team was led by life sciences licensing partner Amanda Austin and life sciences licensing associate Amanda White and included life sciences licensing partner Abigail Gregor.