Blinatumomab is the first of a new class of agents called BiTE antibodies, designed to harness the body’s T cells to kill cancer cells.
As per the deal, the NCI and Micromet will work on a series of clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of blinatumomab in patients with B-cell derived hematologic malignancies.
The initial NCI-sponsored studies will explore blinatumomab’s utility as the first-line treatment for patients newly diagnosed with ALL, older patients with ALL, and patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia.
Micromet senior vice president and chief medical officer said the partnership would help them explore blinatumomab’s clinical potential across a wide range of blood cancers.