ImaginAb, Inc. a developer of in vivo molecular imaging agents based on its proprietary antibody fragment platform, has entered into a collaboration and commercialization agreement with a private, venture-backed biotechnology company MacroGenics, Inc.

Under the terms of the agreement, ImaginAb will develop an anti-CD3 clinical imaging product, for which MacroGenics may receive future milestones and royalties. In addition, ImaginAb will support the development of companion imaging agents for B7-H3, a novel immune regulator target for which MacroGenics is developing therapeutics.

“Collaborating with MacroGenics provides the opportunity to demonstrate the ways in which ImaginAb’s antibody fragment-based imaging technology can be used at the clinical nexus between cancer and immunology,” said Dr Christian Behrenbruch, chief executive officer of ImaginAb. “We are glad to partner on both the B7-H3 and CD3 imaging programmes as they are high-potential targets for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The recent clinical successes around key immune-directed targets in cancer, including those involving members of the B7 family of proteins, make these areas of research especially exciting. Our collaboration will augment ImaginAb’s existing CD8 development programme with an anti-CD3 imaging programme.”

“Imaging immune function is the next frontier of diagnostic medicine and will have a major impact on how new therapeutics are developed for cancer and autoimmune diseases,” commented Dr Scott Koenig, CEO of MacroGenics. “Our collaboration with ImaginAb should benefit our internal development programmes targeting CD3 and B7-H3.”

Under the terms of the agreement, ImaginAb will develop a clinical imaging strategy based on a MacroGenics’ anti-CD3 antibody as a patient selection tool for ongoing clinical programmes, and will engineer a high-performance CD3 binding fragment for routine clinical imaging. In addition, ImaginAb will develop imaging strategies and reagents for MacroGenics’ anti-B7-H3 therapeutic product candidate, MGA271, and related applications for its CD3-based, Re-Directed T Cell Killing DART (Dual-Affinity Re-Targeting) therapeutic programmes in cancer.

ImaginAb is redefining therapeutic management by harnessing the power of antibody technology for in vivo imaging. The company’s proprietary antibody fragment platform yields actionable molecular information to guide treatment decisions in cancer and immunology.