Patients suffering from a rare form of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) now have a new treatment option: BLINCYTO (Blinatumomab), an antibody derivative that activates the body’s own immune system specifically against the cancer cells. It helps immune cells to recognize ® and destroy cancer cells that previously evaded an immune response through a clever camouflage strategy. The drug was approved in the EU in November 2015, and is the first therapeutic advance for those affected in over 20 years. The product is partly based on intellectual property arising at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC). It was initially developed by the Munich start-up Micromet, which was later acquired by Amgen. Ascenion negotiated the licence agreement between Micromet and the MDC that was closed shortly thereafter.
(Annual Review 2015)
