MacroGenics, Raven deal
MacroGenics acquired Raven for an undisclosed amount of stock. Raven has a platform technology to generate mAbs against cancer stem cells (CSCs), which the companies said complements MacroGenics’ Fc-optimization and next-generation antibody engineering platforms. Raven’s lead product is RAV12, a mAb against an undisclosed, non-CSC cell-surface antigen that is in Phase II testing to treat pancreatic cancer. The company also has a library of more than 1,300 mAbs against CSCs. Wyeth (NYSE:WYE, Madison, N.J.) has an option to exclusively license Raven’s preclinical mAbs against an undisclosed cancer target.
MacroGenics has MGAWN1, a mAb against domain III of West Nile virus E protein, which is in Phase I testing to treat West Nile virus infection. The company also has teplizumab, which it licensed to Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY, Indianapolis, Ind.) last year. The humanized mAb against CD3 is in the Phase III portion of the Phase II/III PROTEGE trial to treat recent-onset Type I diabetes. ...