Immunomedics
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFormer biotechnology company focused on antibody-drug conjugates and antibody-based medicines for cancer.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Immunomedics was a United States biotechnology company established in July 1982 by David M. Goldenberg. The company concentrated on antibody-based therapies, especially antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which use a monoclonal antibody to direct a cytotoxic payload toward cells expressing a selected antigen. Its research portfolio addressed cancer and, in some programs, autoimmune disease. Immunomedics became best known for sacituzumab govitecan, an anti-Trop-2 antibody-drug conjugate carrying the active metabolite SN-38. The medicine was developed as IMMU-132 and later commercialized as Trodelvy. The company's development strategy combined humanized or fully human monoclonal antibodies with drug-conjugate technology and other targeted therapeutic approaches. Its pipeline included epratuzumab, an anti-CD22 antibody investigated in leukemia; labetuzumab, an anti-CEACAM5 antibody-drug conjugate studied in colorectal cancer; veltuzumab, an anti-CD20 antibody; milatuzumab, an anti-CD74 antibody investigated in autoimmune disease; and IMMU-114, an anti-HLA-DR program for hematological cancers. The programs varied considerably in development stage, and Trodelvy ultimately became the company's defining clinical and commercial asset. In April 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved Trodelvy for adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who had received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. The approval gave Immunomedics a marketed oncology product and materially increased the strategic value of the company. Trodelvy's development had also been accompanied by corporate and licensing tensions. In 2017, Immunomedics abandoned a licensing arrangement for the drug with Seagen, and the decision was associated with the resignation of founder David M. Goldenberg. Management changed during the company's final independent period. Michael Pehl became chief executive officer in December 2017, left for personal reasons in February 2019, and was followed by the appointment of Behzad Aghazadeh as executive chairman. In September 2020, Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire Immunomedics. The transaction closed in October 2020, bringing Immunomedics and Trodelvy into Gilead's oncology business. Gilead later announced the closure of the former Immunomedics facility in Morris Plains in March 2022. As a result, Immunomedics no longer operates as an independent biotechnology company, although its principal drug continues under Gilead ownership and the Trodelvy name.
History
Immunomedics was founded in July 1982 by David M. Goldenberg as a biotechnology company focused on antibody-based medical research. Its work centered on monoclonal antibodies and their potential use in targeted treatment, particularly in oncology. Over time, the company developed a portfolio spanning unconjugated antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, a class of medicines designed to link tumor-targeting antibodies with cytotoxic compounds. The company's most important program became sacituzumab govitecan, initially identified as IMMU-132. The product combines an antibody directed at Trop-2 with SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan. Immunomedics investigated the compound in breast cancer and other solid tumors. Its development strategy placed the company among biotechnology firms seeking to improve the delivery of chemotherapy by using molecular targeting rather than relying only on nonspecific exposure. Immunomedics also advanced several other antibody programs. Epratuzumab, an anti-CD22 humanized monoclonal antibody, reached phase III investigation in pediatric leukemia. Labetuzumab, designated IMMU-130, was an anti-CEACAM5 antibody-drug conjugate studied in colorectal cancer. Veltuzumab targeted CD20 for cancer treatment, while milatuzumab, designated IMMU-110, targeted CD74 and was investigated for autoimmune diseases. IMMU-114 targeted HLA-DR in hematological cancers. These programs illustrate the breadth of the company's platform, although Trodelvy became the program that reached regulatory approval and commercial relevance. Corporate decisions surrounding sacituzumab govitecan shaped Immunomedics' later history. In 2017, the company scrapped a licensing agreement for the drug with Seagen. The decision was associated with the resignation of founder David M. Goldenberg. Management then changed again when Michael Pehl, appointed chief executive officer in December 2017, left for personal reasons in February 2019. Behzad Aghazadeh was named executive chairman at that time. In April 2020, the FDA approved Trodelvy for adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who had received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. The approval transformed the company's position from a clinical-stage biotechnology developer into a company with an approved oncology medicine. The product also made Immunomedics an acquisition target. Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire the company in 2020, and the transaction closed in October of that year. Immunomedics subsequently ceased to operate independently, while Trodelvy became part of Gilead's oncology portfolio. In March 2022, Gilead announced the closure of the former Immunomedics facility in Morris Plains, marking a further step in the integration of the acquired business.
- 2022
Former Morris Plains facility scheduled for closure
[1]Gilead announced the closure of the former Immunomedics facility in Morris Plains in March 2022.
- 2020
Trodelvy receives FDA approval
[1]The FDA approved sacituzumab govitecan, marketed as Trodelvy, for a defined population of adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
- 2020
Gilead acquisition closes
[1]Gilead Sciences completed its acquisition of Immunomedics in October 2020.
- 2019
Leadership transition
[1]Michael Pehl left the company for personal reasons, and Behzad Aghazadeh became executive chairman.
- 2017
Michael Pehl becomes chief executive officer
[1]Michael Pehl was appointed chief executive officer in December 2017.
- 2017
Seagen licensing deal is scrapped
[1]Immunomedics abandoned a licensing arrangement concerning sacituzumab govitecan with Seagen; the decision was followed by David M. Goldenberg's resignation.
- 1982
Immunomedics is founded
[1]David M. Goldenberg founded Immunomedics in July 1982 as a biotechnology company focused on antibody-based therapeutics.
Products and positioning
Specialist oncology biotechnology company centered on antibody-drug conjugates and targeted antibody therapeutics.
Antibody-drug conjugate · 2020
Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan; IMMU-132)
Trodelvy is an anti-Trop-2 antibody-drug conjugate linked to SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan. Immunomedics developed it for breast cancer and other solid tumors. The FDA approved it in April 2020 for adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who had received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. Following the 2020 acquisition, the product became part of Gilead Sciences' oncology portfolio.
Humanized monoclonal antibody
Epratuzumab
Epratuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against CD22. Immunomedics investigated it as a cancer therapy, including in phase III trials for pediatric leukemia. It represents the company's work on unconjugated antibody medicines in addition to its better-known antibody-drug-conjugate programs.
Antibody-drug conjugate
Labetuzumab (IMMU-130)
Labetuzumab, also known as IMMU-130, is an anti-CEACAM5 antibody-drug conjugate carrying SN-38. Immunomedics studied the program in colorectal cancer, using CEACAM5 as the target for selective delivery of the cytotoxic payload to tumor cells.
Monoclonal antibody
Veltuzumab
Veltuzumab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody investigated by Immunomedics for cancer treatment. The program belonged to the company's broader antibody platform and was distinct from the Trop-2-directed ADC that ultimately became Trodelvy.
Monoclonal antibody
Milatuzumab (IMMU-110)
Milatuzumab, designated IMMU-110, is an anti-CD74 monoclonal antibody investigated for autoimmune diseases. It demonstrates that Immunomedics' research portfolio extended beyond oncology, although the company was principally identified with cancer-focused antibody therapeutics.
Monoclonal antibody
IMMU-114
IMMU-114 is an anti-HLA-DR program investigated for hematological cancers. It was part of Immunomedics' research portfolio of targeted antibody treatments and remained a development-stage asset rather than a marketed product.
Brand decisions
2022
Closure of former Immunomedics facilityStrategyBackground
After the acquisition, Gilead integrated the former Immunomedics business into its own operations.
Action taken
Gilead announced the closure of the former Immunomedics facility in Morris Plains in March 2022.
Aftermath
The closure further reflected the end of Immunomedics as a standalone operating organization.
2020
FDA approval of TrodelvyProduct launchBackground
Sacituzumab govitecan had become Immunomedics' lead antibody-drug-conjugate program for breast cancer and other solid tumors.
Action taken
The FDA approved Trodelvy for adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who had received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease.
Aftermath
The approval gave Immunomedics a marketed oncology product and helped make the company an acquisition target for Gilead Sciences.
2020
Acquisition by Gilead SciencesM&ABackground
Following Trodelvy's FDA approval, Immunomedics held a commercially valuable oncology asset and a broader antibody-development portfolio.
Action taken
Gilead Sciences acquired Immunomedics, with the transaction closing in October 2020.
Aftermath
Immunomedics ceased to operate as an independent company, and Trodelvy became part of Gilead's oncology business.
Announced acquisition value. $21 billion (2020 acquisition)
2017
Termination of Seagen licensing arrangementOtherBackground
Immunomedics had a licensing arrangement with Seagen concerning sacituzumab govitecan, its most strategically important development program.
Action taken
The company scrapped the licensing deal. The decision was followed by the resignation of founder David M. Goldenberg.
Aftermath
The program remained under Immunomedics' control and later received FDA approval as Trodelvy in 2020.
Recent events
- 2022
Gilead announces closure of former Immunomedics facility[1]
Other
Gilead announced in March 2022 that it would close the former Immunomedics facility in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
- 2020
FDA approves Trodelvy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer[1]
Product launch · Regulation
The FDA approved sacituzumab govitecan, marketed as Trodelvy, for certain adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who had received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease.
- 2020
Gilead Sciences completes acquisition of Immunomedics[1]
M&A
Gilead Sciences completed its acquisition of Immunomedics in October 2020, ending Immunomedics' existence as an independent biotechnology company.
- 2019
Michael Pehl leaves Immunomedics[1]
Leadership change
Michael Pehl left the chief executive role in February 2019 for personal reasons, after which Behzad Aghazadeh became executive chairman.
- 2017
Michael Pehl named chief executive officer[1]
Leadership change
Michael Pehl became Immunomedics' chief executive officer in December 2017.
- 2017
Immunomedics abandons Seagen licensing arrangement for sacituzumab govitecan[1]
Other · Leadership change
The company scrapped a licensing deal concerning sacituzumab govitecan with Seagen; the episode was followed by founder David M. Goldenberg's resignation.
- 1982
Immunomedics founded as a biotechnology company[1]
Other
David M. Goldenberg founded Immunomedics in July 1982, beginning the company's work in antibody-based biotechnology.
Sources1 sources
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