- Results Presented at Annual Meeting of American Association for Cancer
Research (AACR) -
ORLANDO, Fla., March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Immunomedics, Inc.
(Nasdaq: IMMU), and its subsidiary, IBC Pharmaceuticals, Inc., reported an
advance in proprietary pretargeting technology involving radioimmunotherapy,
whereby the selective targeting of a tumor with a bispecific antibody is
separated from the second step of delivering a therapeutic isotope.
The advance reported on the construction of a trivalent fusion protein,
whereby two binding sites attach to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the
third binding site attaches to a specific peptide that can be labeled with a
variety of isotopes or drugs. In an animal model of transplanted human colon
cancer, the pretargeting procedure with these new agents resulted in a
tumor/blood ratio of 33.5 at three hours post-injection of the radiolabeled
peptide, increasing to 110.7 at 24 hours.
"This is a high dose of radioactivity selectively delivered to the tumor,
with extremely small amounts being present in the blood at these early times
post therapy," commented Immunomedics' President and Chief Executive Officer,
Cynthia L. Sullivan.
"IBC Pharmaceuticals, Inc., developed this novel delivery system for
improved therapy of cancer and other diseases, and we are pleased with this
important progress in the development and manufacture of trivalent fusion
proteins," Ms. Sullivan explained. "Since the first-generation pretargeting
agents show selective targeting in tumors in patients, thus validating the
technology, we are encouraged to proceed to bring these new recombinant
constructs to the clinic," she commented further.
Immunomedics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development,
manufacture and commercialization of diagnostic imaging and therapeutic
products for the detection and treatment of cancer and other serious diseases.
Integral to these products are highly specific monoclonal antibodies and
antibody fragments designed to deliver radioisotopes and chemotherapeutic
agents to tumors and other sites of disease. Immunomedics has nine
therapeutic product candidates in clinical or near clinical development and
has two marketed diagnostic imaging products. The most advanced therapeutic
product candidates are epratuzumab, for which certain Phase II clinical trials
for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have already been completed, and
labetuzumab, which is in Phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of
certain solid tumors.
This release, in addition to historical information, contains
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including statements regarding clinical
trials, involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results could
differ materially from those expressed or implied herein. Factors that could
cause such differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated with
new product development (including clinical trials outcome and regulatory
requirements/actions), competitive risks to marketed products and availability
of financing and other sources of capital, as well as the risks discussed in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year June 30, 2003.
Company Contact: Trish Merwin, Investor Relations, (973) 605-8200,
extension 263.
Visit the Company's web site at
http://www.immunomedics.com.
NOTE: Data in this release refer to AACR abstract #1019 presented as a
poster.
SOURCE Immunomedics, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.Immunomedics.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/113121.html
CONTACT:
Trish Merwin, Investor Relations of
Immunomedics, Inc., +1-973-605-8200, ext. 263
|
