IDM and Cambridge Laboratories sign an exclusive marketing agreement for
Junovan ™ (Mepact) in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Paris, France – June 21, 2005. IDM (Immuno-Designed Molecules), a privately
held biopharmaceutical company, the shareholders of which recently entered into an
agreement to combine with Epimmune Inc. (Nasdaq: EPMN), today announced that
it has signed an exclusive marketing agreement for Junovan (Mepact or L-MTP-PE)
in the United Kingdom and Ireland with Cambridge Laboratories Ltd, a privately
owned British pharmaceutical company. Junovan, known as Mepact throughout
clinical development, is the brand name the product will be marketed under
worldwide, upon obtaining necessary regulatory approvals.
In exchange, IDM will receive an upfront license fee and milestone payments
throughout the development of the product prior to launch, as well as royalties
calculated on product sales.
Junovan is an immune system stimulator designed to destroy cancer cells by
activating macrophages present in the patient. Results from a phase III, randomized
clinical trial demonstrated that in 664 patients suffering from non-metastatic
osteosarcoma that was amenable to resection, Junovan, given with chemotherapy
compared to chemotherapy alone, significantly extended survival without relapse as
well as overall survival. Severe adverse events were those typically associated with
high dose chemotherapy and surgery. Adverse events associated with Junovan are
related to its biologic activity and generally include mild to moderate fever, chills,
rigors, fatigue, nausea and increases in serum proteins associated with macrophage
activation. The clinical trial was conducted in the United States by the Children’s
Oncology Group, in children with newly diagnosed high grade osteosarcoma, and
the results were presented at the American Society of Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) Annual Meeting in May 2005.
Junovan was granted orphan drug status for the treatment of osteosarcoma in the
U.S