Immunomedics Gets TROP-2 Antibody Patent

Immunomedics, Inc. has been issued U.S. patent no. 8,574,575 for “RS7 Antibodies.” This patent relates to methods of use of the company’s proprietary TROP-2 antibody. The allowed claims cover the use of IMMU-132, a SN-38 conjugate of TROP-2, for the treatment of cancer.

TROP-2 is a receptor expressed by many human tumors, such as cancers of the breast, cervix, colon and rectum, kidney, liver, lung, ovary, pancreas, and prostate, but with only limited expression in normal human tissues. Immunomedics has created IMMU-132 by conjugating its TROP-2 antibody with SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan, which is a standard therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

The TROP-2 antibody will be patent protected until July 2023. The company has five patents covering this antibody, which is now in a Phase II clinical trial as an SN-38 conjugate for the treatment of patients with a variety of solid cancers.