Micromet has announced a partnership with the National Cancer Institute to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop blinatumomab in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and various sub-types of lymphoma.

This new product is designed to harness the body's T cells to kill cancer cells. Blinatumomab is the first product of a new calss of agents called BiTE antibodies and the new collaboration between Micromet and NCI will help evaluate the safety and efficacy of the new product in patients with B-celll derived hematologic malignancies.

National Cancer Institute's sponsored initial studies will explore blinatumomab's utility as a first line treatment for patients who have been newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, older patients and also patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Bliatumomab (MT103) represents the next generation monoclonal antibody based therapeutic designed to direct the body's cell destroying T-cells against target cells expressing CD19. CD19 is a protein expressed on the surgact of B-cell derivced acute lymphoblastic leukemias and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Micromet's blinatumomab product is also the subject of a European pivotal trial in patients with minimal residual disease positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Micromet's collaboration with NCI does not represent the first, with the company having collaborations with a number of leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune, Nycomed and Sanofi.

To view more information concerning the development of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy please click here: http://www.companiesandmarkets.com/Summary-Market-Report/monoclonal-antibodies-in-cancer-therapy-world-market-prospects-2010-2025-328935.asp