IMMUNOGEN, INC.

The invention relates to novel cell-binding agent-maytansinoid conjugate having a self-immolative peptide linker and more specifically to conjugates of formula (I). The invention also provides novel maytansinoid compounds of formula (II), (III), (IV) or (V). The invention further provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a proliferative disorder in a mammal using the compounds or conjugates of the invention.

Methods and uses of immunoconjugates that bind to CD123 (e.g., pivekimab sunirine) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are provided. Such immunoconjugates can be used as monotherapies or can be used in combination with BCL-2 inhibitors (e.g., venetoclax), and/or hypomethylating agents (e.g., azacitidine or decitabine) to prepare patients with AML for hematopoietic stem cell transplant and/or to achieve complete remissions in patients with AML, including those with poor prognostic markers.

The invention provides novel methods for preparing camptothecin derivatives and their synthetic precursors.

The present disclosure provides biparatopic antibodies comprising polypeptides that bind to folate receptor alpha (FRα) compositions comprising such biparatopic antibodies. In a specific aspect, the biparatopic antibodies bind to FRα and modulate FRα activity. The present disclosure also provides methods for treating disorders, such as cancer, by administering a biparatopic antibody that specifically binds to FRα and modulates FRα activity.

Disclosed is a method of preparing an amino acid ester of maytansinol by reacting maytansinol with an N-carboxyanhydride of an amino acid (NCA) in the presence of a proton sponge and a Lewis acid.

Methods and uses of immunoconjugates that bind to CD123 (e.g., pivekimab sunirine) in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) are provided. Such immunoconjugates can be used, for example, to prepare patients with BPDCN for hematopoietic stem cell transplant, to achieve bone marrow remission in BPDCN patients with bone marrow involvement, and to achieve long-lasting complete remissions in patients with BPDCN as a result of a short treatment period.

Methods of administering immunoconjugates that bind to FOLR1 are provided. The methods comprise administering an anti-FOLR1 immunoconjugate to a person in need thereof, for example, a cancer patient, at a therapeutically effective dosing regimen that results in minimal adverse effects.

The invention relates to novel cell-binding agent-maytansinoid conjugate having a self-immolative peptide linker and more specifically to conjugates of formula (I). The invention also provides novel maytansinoid compounds of formula (II), (III), (IV) or (V). The invention further provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a proliferative disorder in a mammal using the compounds or conjugates of the invention.

The invention provides a process for preparing a cell-binding agent chemically coupled to a drug. The process comprises covalently attaching a linker to a cell-binding agent, a purification step, conjugating a drug to the cell-binding agent and a subsequent purification step.

This invention describes a method of conjugating a cell binding agent such as an antibody with an effector group (e.g., a cytotoxic agent) or a reporter group (e.g., a radionuclide), whereby the reporter or effector group is first reacted with a bifunctional linker and the mixture is then used without purification for the conjugation reaction with the cell binding agent. The method described in this invention is advantageous for preparation of stably-linked conjugates of cell binding agents, such as antibodies with effector or reporter groups. This conjugation method provides in high yields conjugates of high purity and homogeneity that are without inter-chain cross-linking and inactivated linker residues.