Boehringer to make prostate cancer antibody

BI is the among the top-ranked contract manufacturers of biologicals in the world, and last year doubled its production capacity both at its primary site in Biberach, Germany, and a secondary fermentation facility in Vienna, Austria.

With more than €255 million spent on the German expansion alone, investors in the company will be looking for new partnerships to make use of this added capacity. Since announcing the new capacity last September, BI has also announced a deal to make an antibody for immunological diseases developed by TeGenero.

In the latest agreement, BI will undertake the process development and production of Micromet's fully human antibody MT201, which is in Phase II trials for the treatment of prostate cancer. BI will develop a commercial scale process for MT201 by using its proprietary high expression cell line and supply Micromet with material for clinical trials and future commercialisation.

In addition, Micromet may obtain a licence to BI's high expression technology for the manufacturing of MT201, although BI still retains an option to make the antibody commercially if it should come to market.

Micromet plans to initiate a second Phase II study in a different cancer this year, but has had to realign its strategy for the drug since entering into dispute with its partner for the drug, Novuspharma, following the latter's merger with Cell Therapeutics. The new deal with BI reinforces Micromet's commitment to taking the drug forward on its own.

MT201 targets the Ep-CAM antigen on cancer cells and has the potential to improve the treatment of a wide range of solid tumours including carcinoma of the prostate, colon, lung, breast, stomach, pancreas, head and neck, and ovary.