ImmunoGen in line for $5m payment

ImmunoGen Inc. said today it is in line to receive a $5 million milestone payment because partner Genentech Inc. has started Phase 2 clinical testing of a potential ImmunoGen treatment of a certain kind of breast cancer.

In 2000, ImmunoGen of Cambridge entered an agreement with California-based Genentech that gave Genentech the exclusive right to develop products using ImmunoGen's maytansinoid TAP technology, with TAP standing for Tumor Activated Prodrug.

The start of this phase of testing triggered the milestone payment, ImmunoGen said.

ImmunoGen created its TAP technology to enhance the anticancer activity of tumor-targeting monoclonal antibodies.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)