IMGN779

IMGN779 is a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developed for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It consists of a humanized anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody (Z4681A) linked via a cleavable sulfo-SPDB linker to DGN462, an indolinobenzodiazepine pseudodimer payload from the IGN class of DNA-alkylating cytotoxic agents. The drug selectively targets CD33-positive leukemic cells, delivering its potent DNA-alkylating payload directly to these cells. Mechanistically, IMGN779 induces DNA damage without crosslinking, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in AML cells while sparing normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. Preclinical and early clinical studies demonstrated robust anti-leukemic activity and manageable tolerability in relapsed/refractory AML patients[1][2][3][4][5][6][8]. Development was led by ImmunoGen.