April 21, 2004 -- News Release
Micromet and BioInvent Enter Patent License Agreement for Single-Chain Antibody Technology
Munich, Germany -- Micromet AG and BioInvent International AB have signed an agreement under which BioInvent obtains a non-exclusive worldwide license from Micromet to the consolidated Micromet and Enzon single-chain antibody (SCA) patent portfolio for BioInvent’s discovery and development activities. Under the terms of the agreement, BioInvent obtains a research license to use SCAbased technologies in the context of its antibody library for the discovery of therapeutic or diagnostic products. These rights apply to BioInvent’s internal research programs as well as development partnerships with other companies. The agreement includes the right to sublicense to collaboration partners. Micromet will receive an upfront payment and annual maintenance fees as well as potential sublicensing fees. The revenues will be shared between Micromet and Enzon who jointly market their complementary patent estates in the field of single-chain antibodies under a multi-year strategic collaboration. The Micromet Enzon agreement designates Micromet as the exclusive marketing partner for the consolidated IP portfolio. “Micromet and Enzon have created one of the most comprehensive IP estates in the field of SCAs and established a licensing program in order to facilitate access for third parties. BioInvent’s proprietary phage display library provides an excellent example for the strong potential of SCAs for the discovery of innovative diagnostic or therapeutic proteins” said Christian Itin, CEO, Micromet AG. Svein Mathisen, President and CEO, BioInvent International, said: “We are pleased, through this agreement, to be able to further broaden our antibody discovery capabilities and services for clients and collaborators.” ### Contact Press: Evelyn Wolf Email: evelyn.wolf@micromet.de, Phone: +49 (0) 89 895 277-220, Fax: -205 Investors: Ines-Regina Buth Email: ines-regina.buth@micromet.de, Phone: +49 (0) 89 895 277-221, Fax: -205 Licensing: Agustin de la Calle, Ph.D. Email: agustin.calle@micromet.de, Phone: +49 (0) 89 895 277-296, Fax: -285
Micromet AG, Staffelseestr. 2, 81477 Munich, Germany, www.micromet.de
Notes to editors About Single-Chain Antibodies SCAs combine the antigen binding regions of antibodies on a single polypeptide chain. They are considerably smaller in size than conventional antibodies, and can be produced conveniently on a commercial scale in microbial protein expression systems, providing significant cost-savings when compared to monoclonal antibodies. SCAs are highly versatile and can readily be genetically engineered to work in a variety of formats. These formats include SCAs specific for cell-surface receptors for application as biological antagonists and agonists; SCAs designed to block the activity of cytokines and other soluble biological mediators; and SCA-fusion proteins, where cell-specific SCAs are “armed” with toxins, radionuclides, enzymes, or cytotoxic drugs for selective elimination of particular cell types, for example in cancer. The outstanding tissue penetration and variety of SCA formats make them attractive products potentially suitable for a broad range of therapeutic applications, beyond the reach of conventional monoclonal antibodies in areas such as cancer, central nervous system disorders, transplantation, inflammation and autoimmunity. The ability to deliver SCAs by alternative routes of administration, e.g. by pulmonary delivery, and to predictably extend the biological halflife of SCAs by PEGylation, further expands the clinical utility of SCA products beyond the range of monoclonal antibodies. About Micromet AG Micromet AG, a private Munich-based biotechnology company, puts novel concepts in immunotherapy to work. Using proprietary technologies, the Company is building a strong pipeline of innovative drug candidates for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune disease, with two of them currently in clinical trials. Beyond its proprietary BiTE™ product engine, the Company is exploiting the potential of SCAs (single-chain antibodies) for the development of novel drug formats under a multiyear strategic collaboration with Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Company has attracted both, top-tier life-science investors and corporate partners such as MedImmune, Inc. and Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For further information, please visit the company’s web site at www.micromet.de.
About BioInvent International AB BioInvent International AB, listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Exchange (Stockholmsbörsen), is an innovative research and development company active in the biotechnology field. The Company develops antibody-based drug candidates against diseases where there is a significant unmet medical need. BioInvent is currently conducting proprietary drug projects in major disease areas such as AIDS, atherosclerosis, cancer and arthrosis. The Company’s technology platform – the n-CoDeR® antibody library and a production facility approved for the manufacture of biological drugs – provides the necessary conditions for the development of antibody-based drugs. The technology platform is also used for the development and manufacture of drugs on behalf of the Company’s partners. BioInvent’s partners include Antisoma, Celltech, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Igeneon, ImmunoGen and XOMA. The Company has 104 employees and operates in the Ideon Research Park in Lund.
Micromet AG, Staffelseestr. 2, 81477 Munich, Germany, www.micromet.de