Micromet Seals Agreement With Lonza

Micromet has entered into an agreement for the process development and manufacture of blinatumomab (MT103) with Lonza.

As per the agreement, Lonza is expected to manufacture blinatumomab for clinical trials. In addition, Lonza is also expected to develop the commercial scale process and will supply blinatumomab for the market, if so requested by Micromet.

Blinatumomab is a BiTE antibody for the treatment of various hematologic cancers. Blinatumomab consists of four immunoglobulin variable domains assembled into a single polypeptide chain. Two of the variable domains form the binding site for CD19, a cell surface antigen expressed on most B cells and B tumor cells. The other two variable domains form the binding site for the CD3 complex on T cells.

Blinatomumab has achieved the primary endpoint in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Moreover, Blinatumomab has shown positive clinical activity in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), claims the company.

Micromet controls the worldwide rights to develop and commercialise blinatumomab after it re-acquired MedImmune’s remaining rights to this product candidate on November 4, 2009.