Immunomedics starts milatuzumab trial

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. Immunomedics has started a trial of an investigational drug for treating cancer of the plasma cells, the company said Tuesday.

The drug maker announced that it had dosed its first patient in a combination phase 1 and phase 2 trial of milatuzumab, for treating patients with relapsed multiple myeloma, which is diagnosed in more than 20,000 people and results in more than 10,000 deaths a year in the United States. Milatuzumab, a monoclonal antibody, is being administered with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin, and Immunomedics said it was the first antibody-drug conjugate it had tested clinically.

“We are pleased to have initiated the patient dosing of our first [antibody-drug conjugate],” Immunomedics CEO Cynthia Sullivan said.