BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN - News) announced today that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - News) under which Pfizer will pay an upfront fee of $8 million for rights to utilize Seattle Genetics’ antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology with antibodies to a single oncology target.
“This collaboration reflects the increasing value of our ADC technology and strong interest in its potential among leaders in the drug development community,” said Eric L. Dobmeier, Chief Business Officer of Seattle Genetics. “We now have ten ongoing ADC collaborations, six collaborator ADCs using our technology are in clinical development, and several additional programs are advancing towards the clinic. We have generated more than $145 million from ADC licensing, and we have the potential to receive significant future milestones and royalties for ADCs developed by our collaborators.”
Pfizer is responsible for research, product development, manufacturing and commercialization of any ADC products under the collaboration. Seattle Genetics is eligible to receive from Pfizer over $200 million in progress-dependent milestones as well as royalties on worldwide net sales of any resulting ADC products. Seattle Genetics also will receive material supply and annual maintenance fees as well as research support payments for assistance provided to Pfizer under the collaboration.
ADCs are monoclonal antibodies that selectively deliver potent anti-cancer agents to tumor cells. With over a decade of experience and knowledge in ADC innovation, Seattle Genetics has developed proprietary technology employing synthetic, highly potent cell-killing agents called auristatins (such as MMAE and MMAF) and stable linker systems that attach auristatin to the antibody. Seattle Genetics’ novel linker systems are designed to be stable in the bloodstream and release the potent cell-killing agent once inside targeted cancer cells. This approach is intended to spare non-targeted cells and thus reduce many of the toxic effects of traditional chemotherapy while enhancing the antitumor activity.
About Seattle Genetics
Seattle Genetics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. The company recently reported positive data from a pivotal Hodgkin lymphoma trial and phase II systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) trial with its lead product candidate, brentuximab vedotin. Seattle Genetics plans to submit a Biologics License Application for brentuximab vedotin to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for both relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and ALCL in the first quarter of 2011. Brentuximab vedotin is being developed in collaboration with Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. In addition, Seattle Genetics has four other clinical-stage programs: SGN-75, ASG-5ME, dacetuzumab (SGN-40) and SGN-70. Seattle Genetics has collaborations for its ADC technology with a number of leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer, Celldex Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, Pfizer and Progenics, as well as ADC co-development agreements with Agensys, an affiliate of Astellas, and Genmab. More information can be found at www.seattlegenetics.com.
Certain of the statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating to the therapeutic potential and future clinical progress, regulatory approval and commercial launch of products utilizing Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks related to adverse clinical results as our product candidates or our collaborators’ product candidates move into and advance in clinical trials, risks inherent in early stage development and failure by Seattle Genetics to secure or maintain relationships with collaborators. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Seattle Genetics, Inc. Peggy Pinkston, 425-527-4160 ppinkston@seagen.com
