Immunomedics finds MoAb partner

Immunomedics signed on a U.S. unit of Italian conglomerate Montedisonthis month for exclusive North American sales and marketing ofthe firm's monoclonal-antibody-based cancer imaging agents. AdriaLaboratories of Dublin, OH, is a division of pharmaceutical firmErbamont, which in turn is owned by Montedison.

Adria has an established presence and sales force in the oncologicalmarket, said Amy Factor, vice president of finance for Immunomedicsof Warren, NJ. The biotechnology firm will manufacture its canceragents for Adria and maintain regulatory and clinical testingresponsibility.

Immunomedics filed a product license application in April forImmuRAID-CEA, an agent targeted at colorectal cancer. The Foodand Drug Administration has not yet approved a monoclonal antibodyimaging agent for U.S. marketing.

Adria will handle all sales activity for the cancer agents.The partners will work together to build a sales presence in thenuclear medicine field, where the larger pharmaceutical firm isnot currently active, Factor said.

The agreement with Adria does not cover an infectious diseaseimaging agent that is in phase two/three clinical trials at theFDA. No decision has been made on how to market that product,Factor said. Immunomedics is also developing a line of therapeuticmonoclonal agents.

Immunomedics already manufactures in vitro products as wellas the in vivo agents used in clinical trials. It is gearing upproduction capacity in anticipation of the launch of ImmuRaid-CEA.The firm has 45 employees at present, Factor said.

Despite the Italian connection in this agreement, Adria willnot work with Immunomedics' products in Europe. Immunomedics issearching for a partner to help obtain regulatory approval andsell the agents in this market, she said. Talks with BoehringerIngelheim International, a German pharmaceutical company, brokeoff in May (SCAN 5/22/91).