Amgen has acquired global development and commercial rights to Boehringer Ingelheim's (BI) bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) immuno-oncology drug, BI 836909 (AMG 420), which is under investigation for treating multiple myeloma. Under the agreement, Amgen will work with BI to assume responsibility for the clinical development of BI 836909, transfer manufacturing, and lead global regulatory activity moving forward.

Amgen will also receive worldwide commercialization rights for the drug. Prior to this agreement, BI held global development and commercialization rights. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

BI 836909 is currently in Phase I studies. The compound was originally licensed to BI by Rockville, Maryland-based Micromet, which focused on developing potential new treatments for cancer and other conditions before being acquired by Amgen in 2012.

BI's BiTE technology is a modified antibody-based immunotherapy system being investigated for fighting cancer by helping the body’s immune system detect and target malignant cells.

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim