Immunomedics inks therapy joint venture

Immunomedics of Morris Plains, NJ, announced this month that it has entered into a joint venture with Beckman Coulter. The venture, IBC Pharmaceuticals, will take advantage of the two companies' compatible technologies to develop new cancer treatments.

Immunomedics will supply its technological and marketing expertise to the venture, as well as one of its antibody patents. Fullerton, CA-based Beckman Coulter will contribute a bispecific antibody targeting technology developed by the company's Immunotech subsidiary in Marseilles, France. The technology, called the affinity enhancement system, works in a two-pronged method: A patient is first injected with the bispecific antibody that attaches to cancer cells, then is injected with a therapeutic. The process allows the tumor-killing drug to bind directly to cancer cells and kill them selectively, without affecting healthy tissue.

Immunomedics will continue its own R&D program independently of IBC, according to company chairman Dr. David Goldenberg. In addition to other diagnostic agents, Immunomedics has therapeutic agent CEA-Cide in phase I/II dose-ranging trials.