Immunome Provides Update on Recent Business Development Activity Expected to Expand ADC Capabilities

Rhea-AI Summary

Immunome (Nasdaq: IMNM) has announced recent business development activities aimed at expanding its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) capabilities. The company has acquired exclusive rights to antibody panels from Nectin Therapeutics, Bluefin Biomedicine, and OncoResponse, targeting undisclosed solid tumor targets. This follows earlier acquisitions from Atreca and Zentalis, including the IM-1021 ADC platform technology.

CEO Clay Siegall emphasized Immunome's vision of developing a broad pipeline of targeted therapies, particularly ADCs against novel targets. CSO Jack Higgins highlighted the importance of matching appropriate antibodies, linkers, and payloads to each target's unique biology. The company believes these acquisitions will complement its internal discovery efforts and advance its product pipeline, potentially bringing significant benefits to cancer patients.

Positive

• Acquisition of exclusive rights to multiple antibody panels targeting solid tumors
• Expansion of ADC capabilities through strategic business development
• Complementing internal discovery efforts with external acquisitions
• Building a diverse toolbox of antibodies, linkers, and proprietary TOP1 inhibitor for ADC development

Negative

• None.

Insights

Biotechnology Analyst

Immunome's recent business development activities signal a strategic expansion of their antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) capabilities, a move that could potentially strengthen their position in the competitive oncology market. The acquisition of exclusive rights to multiple antibody panels and individual antibodies from various sources is a clear indication of the company's commitment to building a diverse and robust ADC pipeline.

The key points to consider are:

• Diversification of targets: The acquisitions cover antibodies against multiple undisclosed solid tumor targets, suggesting a broad approach to oncology research.
• Novelty: The company states that none of the acquired antibodies share targets with FDA-approved ADCs, potentially indicating a focus on novel mechanisms of action.
• Complementary strategy: These acquisitions complement Immunome's internal discovery efforts, potentially accelerating their pipeline development.
• Toolbox expansion: The company has built a comprehensive ADC toolbox, including multiple linkers and a proprietary TOP1 inhibitor, which could enhance their ability to develop effective ADCs.

While these developments are promising, it's important to note that the specific targets and potential indications remain undisclosed, making it challenging to assess the true value of these acquisitions. The success of these efforts will ultimately depend on the company's ability to translate these assets into clinically and commercially viable therapies.

From an investor's perspective, this aggressive business development strategy could be seen as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it demonstrates the company's commitment to growth and innovation. On the other, it may raise questions about the substantial financial commitments these acquisitions likely entail and the potential dilution of resources across multiple programs.

Overall, while this news indicates positive momentum for Immunome's ADC platform, investors should closely monitor the company's progress in advancing these newly acquired assets through preclinical and clinical stages to gauge their true potential impact on the company's future.

Oncology Research Specialist

Immunome's strategic acquisitions in the ADC space reflect the growing importance of this modality in cancer treatment. ADCs have gained significant traction in recent years due to their ability to deliver potent cytotoxic agents directly to cancer cells while minimizing systemic toxicity.

Several aspects of Immunome's approach are noteworthy:

• Novel targets: By focusing on antibodies that don't share targets with existing FDA-approved ADCs, Immunome is positioning itself to potentially address unmet medical needs and reduce competition in the market.
• Diverse antibody sources: Acquiring antibodies from multiple companies (Nectin Therapeutics, Bluefin Biomedicine, OncoResponse, Atreca) suggests a thorough approach to identifying the most promising candidates.
• Proprietary payload: The mention of a differentiated proprietary TOP1 inhibitor is intriguing. TOP1 inhibitors have shown efficacy in various cancers and a novel, proprietary version could provide a competitive edge if it demonstrates improved potency or reduced toxicity.

However, it's important to remember that success in the ADC field is not guaranteed. Many promising ADCs have failed in clinical trials due to narrow therapeutic windows, off-target toxicities, or insufficient efficacy. The challenge for Immunome will be to effectively match their diverse antibody portfolio with appropriate linkers and payloads to create ADCs with optimal therapeutic indices.

The company's emphasis on 'next generation' ADCs suggests they may be incorporating recent advancements in the field, such as site-specific conjugation, novel linker chemistries, or bispecific antibody frameworks. These could potentially lead to ADCs with improved stability, efficacy and safety profiles.

As the ADC landscape becomes increasingly crowded, Immunome's success will depend not only on the novelty of their targets but also on the overall performance of their ADCs in terms of efficacy, safety and manufacturability. Investors should look for updates on preclinical data and the initiation of clinical trials as key indicators of progress in the coming months to years.

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Immunome, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMNM), a biotechnology company focused on developing first-in-class and best-in-class targeted cancer therapies, today provided an update on recent business development activity, including three recently closed transactions that are expected to enhance the company’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) capabilities. Immunome acquired worldwide, exclusive rights to:

• A panel of antibodies against an undisclosed solid tumor target from Nectin Therapeutics
• A panel of antibodies against an undisclosed solid tumor target from Bluefin Biomedicine
• Four antibodies against undisclosed targets from OncoResponse

In addition, the company previously announced the purchase of 28 antibodies from Atreca in May 2024 and the exclusive license of IM-1021 along with the underlying ADC platform technology from Zentalis in January 2024. None of the acquired antibodies are known to share the same target as an FDA approved ADC.

“Immunome’s long-term vision remains centered on a broad pipeline of targeted therapies, particularly ADCs against novel targets,” said Clay Siegall, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Immunome. “Focused business development activity complements our highly productive internal discovery efforts and has led to an advancing pipeline of product candidates.”

“Successful ADC development requires addressing the unique biology of each target with appropriate antibodies, linkers and payloads,” added Jack Higgins, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Immunome. “Our research team has identified multiple promising ADC targets. We have also established a toolbox that includes multiple linkers, our differentiated proprietary TOP1 inhibitor and numerous antibodies. We believe that the next generation of ADCs will bring tremendous benefit to cancer patients.”

About Immunome, Inc.

Immunome is a clinical-stage targeted oncology company committed to developing first-in-class and best-in-class targeted therapies designed to improve outcomes for cancer patients. We are advancing an innovative portfolio of therapeutics, drawing on leadership that previously played key roles in the design, development and commercialization of cutting-edge targeted cancer therapies, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). In addition to a portfolio of discovery-stage ADCs, our pipeline includes AL102, a gamma secretase inhibitor currently in a Phase 3 trial for treatment of desmoid tumors, as well as IM-1021, a ROR1 ADC, and IM-3050, a FAP-targeted radioligand, both of which are the subject of INDs expected to be submitted in the first quarter of 2025. For more information, visit www.immunome.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We use words such as “believe,” “expected,” and similar expressions to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Immunome’s expectations around recently closed transactions; the next generation of ADCs’ ability to bring benefit to cancer patients; Immunome’s expected timeline for regulatory filings; and other statements regarding management’s intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future. These forward-looking statements are based on Immunome’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the risk that Immunome will not be able to realize the benefits of its strategic transactions; Immunome’s ability to grow and successfully execute on its business plan, including the development and commercialization of its pipeline and integration of newly acquired assets; the risk that prior experience and success of Immunome’s management team is not indicative of future success; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time described in Immunome’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024, and in Immunome’s other filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, Immunome assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240725411821/en/

Max Rosett

Chief Financial Officer

investors@immunome.com

Source: Immunome, Inc.

FAQ

What recent acquisitions has Immunome (IMNM) made to expand its ADC capabilities?

Immunome has acquired exclusive rights to antibody panels from Nectin Therapeutics, Bluefin Biomedicine, and OncoResponse, targeting undisclosed solid tumor targets. Additionally, the company previously acquired 28 antibodies from Atreca and licensed IM-1021 along with an ADC platform technology from Zentalis.

How do these acquisitions align with Immunome's (IMNM) long-term vision?

These acquisitions align with Immunome's long-term vision of developing a broad pipeline of targeted therapies, particularly ADCs against novel targets. The company aims to complement its internal discovery efforts with focused business development activities to advance its product pipeline.

What is Immunome's (IMNM) approach to ADC development?

Immunome's approach to ADC development involves addressing the unique biology of each target with appropriate antibodies, linkers, and payloads. The company has established a toolbox that includes multiple linkers, a proprietary TOP1 inhibitor, and numerous antibodies to develop next-generation ADCs for cancer treatment.

Are any of Immunome's (IMNM) newly acquired antibodies targeting the same targets as FDA-approved ADCs?

None of the antibodies acquired by Immunome are known to share the same target as an FDA-approved ADC, suggesting the company is focusing on novel targets for its ADC development efforts.