IDEC’s goal is to develop two major commercial franchises – one in oncology in certain B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, the other in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The success that IDEC experienced with Rituxan® (Rituximab) is being leveraged to other aspects of IDEC’s business. For example, our second investigational anti-cancer agent, ZEVALIN TM (Ibritumomab Tiuxetan), a radioimmunotherapy, builds on the foundations established developing and marketing Rituxan.
In the third quarter of 1999 IDEC transitioned from co-manufacturing Rituxan with Genentech, our copromotion partner, to manufacturing ZEVALIN. In the future Genentech alone will manufacture Rituxan.
In the area of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, IDEC’s broad approach to product development leverages its expertise in immunology, as well as its ability to develop, manufacture and market monoclonal antibodies.
IDEC products are directed at specific interactions between specific cellular antigens which are believed to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammation and allergy. Our product candidates are all monoclonal antibodies that target key pathways in the immune activation process, and offer a wide range of development opportunities.